Private hospital operators conduct their business in a competitive environment and competition laws can affect how they interact with their competitors and other organisations such as private health insurers, pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies and medical practitioners.

Biggs v George [2016] NSWCA 113; Hinton v Alpha Westmead Private Hospital [2016] FCAFC 107

Secretary, Department of Health v DLW Health Services Pty Limited [2016] FCA 108 is an appeal to the Federal Court of Australia against a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, concerning a decision by delegates of the Commonwealth Department of Health to reduce classification levels of aged care recipients.

including ‘Capital Refurbishment’ Type Fees

The Government published on 2 September 2016 Information for Approved Providers of Residential Aged Care Homes on Charging Fees for Additional Care and Services in Residential Aged Care, including ‘Capital Refurbishment’ Type Fees.15

The Federal Government announced in the 2016/2017 budget10 that it will achieve efficiencies of $1.2 billion over four years through changes to the scoring matrix of the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) that determines the level of funding paid to aged care providers. The Government will also reduce indexation of the Complex Health Care component of the ACFI by 50 per cent in 2016/17 and establish a $53.3 million transitional assistance fund to support providers.

Until 27 February 2017, CDC funding for home care is provided to places as allocated to Approved Providers via the Aged Care Approval Rounds (ACAR).

What is consumer directed care?

for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing of Patients by SA Pathology; Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital Medical Gas Findings Report

Clinical governance is the term used to describe a systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care within a clinical care setting, health program or health system. It is about the ability to produce effective change so that high quality care is achieved.  It requires clinicians and administrators to take joint responsibility for making sure this occurs.2

With an increasing aging population and decreasing financial resources, innovation is essential in improving health care delivery and patient outcomes.

We are delighted to announce the September 2016 edition of the Holman Webb Health Law Bulletin is now published.

The theme of this Health Law Bulletin is “Improving Patient Outcomes”.  With an increasing aging population and decreasing financial resources, innovation is essential in improving health care delivery and patient outcomes.