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Agenda
8.00
Registration and coffee
8.30
Welcome and speed networking session
Get to know your peers right from the start in this relaxed and informal speed networking session. Bring your business cards!
8.45
Opening remarks from the Chair
Craig Bosworth, Director of Strategy, Healthways Australia
Craig Bosworth, Director of Strategy, Healthways Australia
HEALTH POLICY REFORM
8.50
OPENING ADDRESS
Reviewing the government’s agenda for Medicare, the implications for health expenditure and the impact on health care services
Craig Bosworth, Director of Strategy, Healthways Australia
Reviewing the government’s agenda for Medicare, the implications for health expenditure and the impact on health care services
- What is the government’s stance on funding options in recent reports?
- What is the effect of the current economic crisis on healthcare funding?
- How will the funding arrangements impact the role of Medicare?
- What challenges face the future of the Medicare scheme?
- What are the national health priorities?
Craig Bosworth, Director of Strategy, Healthways Australia
GOVERNANCE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
9.10
Strengthening the governance of our national health system
Murray Watt MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living
- What will be the role of state departments?
- What are the state-based challenges?
- How do we prepare for the changes?
Murray Watt MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living
9.30
Preparing for the changes to health funding arrangements
Kenneth Baxter, Former Secretary, Department of Premier & Cabinet Victoria & Former Director-General, NSW Premier’s Department
- Preparing for the changes to health funding arrangements
- What are the proposed changes to health funding?
- Which of the NH&HRC proposals will be implemented?
- How could they be implemented nationally?
- How will funding effect the future of health services?
Kenneth Baxter, Former Secretary, Department of Premier & Cabinet Victoria & Former Director-General, NSW Premier’s Department
10.00
Unmuddling the programs of successive governments and recommendations for a fundamental redesign of funding health care
Ian McAuley, Fellow, Centre for Policy Development, Lecturer, Public Sector Finance, University of Canberra
- Examining the fragmentation of existing programs
- Developing a holistic approach to health reform
- Health reform for economic efficiency
- Rationalisation of co-payments
- PHI incentives and the cost to the health budget
Ian McAuley, Fellow, Centre for Policy Development, Lecturer, Public Sector Finance, University of Canberra
10.30
Morning tea
HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND FUNDING OPTIONS
10.45
Medicare is tired, private health insurance needs a rethink, but have the reform committees shown us the way ahead?
Paul Gross, Director, Institute of Health Economics and Technology Assessment
- The collective messages of the three expert committees
- The gaps in the collective vision and the government response
- Converting Medicare from a data accumulator into a patient support system
- Converting private insurers from partial bill payers into change agents
- Repositioning pharmacy, general practice and nursing into effective primary care
- Relieving doctors of the paper burden and paying them for measurable quality and patient safety
Paul Gross, Director, Institute of Health Economics and Technology Assessment
11.30
Medicare: What’s the problem?
Jim Butler, Professor and Director, Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH), The Australian National University
- Is health care spending out of control?
- The role of economic evaluation: what does the future hold?
- Public vs. private production: efficiency of public and private hospitals
- Public vs. private financing: the public/private interface in health insurance
- Funding challenges posed by ageing and technological change
Jim Butler, Professor and Director, Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH), The Australian National University
12.00
Redirecting health funding and enhancing competition between Medicare and private health funds
Johannes (Just) Stoelwinder, Chair of Health Services Management, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
- Investing in a sustainable health insurance system – who should pay?
- Will reform enhance competition between Medicare and private funds?
- Is a national social health insurance scheme a viable option?
- What are the issues surrounding taxation and the Medicare levies?
- How would a social insurance levy be implemented?
Johannes (Just) Stoelwinder, Chair of Health Services Management, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
12.30
Lunch
E-HEALTH AND INNOVATION
1.30
Working with Medicare to develop the Unique Healthcare Identifier
Sheila Bird, General Manager Business Futures and eClaiming, Medicare Australia
Peter Padd, Program Manager of Infrastructure Services, National e-Health Transition Authority
- The Unique Healthcare Identifier – what is it and how does it work?
- Developments in electronic patient records to enhance patient safety
- Improving electronic claiming procedures for ease of use and efficiency
Sheila Bird, General Manager Business Futures and eClaiming, Medicare Australia
Peter Padd, Program Manager of Infrastructure Services, National e-Health Transition Authority
2.00
Medicare and its role in the new world of E-Health
Klaus Boehncke, Principal, Booz & Company Australia
- Benefits of introducing E-Health nationwide
- Key stakeholders and their role
- Required infrastructure and the possible roles of Medicare
Klaus Boehncke, Principal, Booz & Company Australia
PHARMACEUTICALS AND THE PBS
2.30
Analysing the changes to Medicare - a pharmaceutical perspective
Alex Gosman, External Affairs Advisor, GlaxoSmithKline Australia
- Current funding for the PBS
- How insurance is tackling drug costing issues
- Needed funds for R&D in pharmaceuticals
Alex Gosman, External Affairs Advisor, GlaxoSmithKline Australia
DENTAL HEALTH
3.00
Assessing the limitations on access to dental services under the current Medicare system
A/Prof Hans Zoellner, Chairman, Association for the Promotion of Oral Health (NB:time change)
- Addressing the lack of universal comprehensive dental care
- Examining the current level of funding on dental services and the costs involved
- Delivering universal dental Medicare in a cost-effective manner
A/Prof Hans Zoellner, Chairman, Association for the Promotion of Oral Health (NB:time change)
3.30
Afternoon tea
PANEL DISCUSSION
3.50
Balancing government spending and private funding
Mark Fitzgibbon, Chief Executive, NIB Holdings
Bruce Levy, CEO, Medibank Private
Peter Sasson, President, Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association, and General Manager, JLT Health Benefits
John Dwyer AO, Emeritus Professor, UNSW and Founder, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
Jim Butler, Professor and Director, Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH), The Australian National University
Ian McAuley, Fellow, Centre for Policy Development, Lecturer, Public Sector Finance, University of Canberra
- The debate between public health vs. PHI
- What is the impact of changes to PHI rebates?
- What is the impact of EMSN and changes to MBS fees?
- Discussing the challenges and issues commonly overlooked:
- The pressure on Medicare through changes to temporary resident visas
- Health insurance obligations for international students
- Employers' responsibilities
Mark Fitzgibbon, Chief Executive, NIB Holdings
Bruce Levy, CEO, Medibank Private
Peter Sasson, President, Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association, and General Manager, JLT Health Benefits
John Dwyer AO, Emeritus Professor, UNSW and Founder, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
Jim Butler, Professor and Director, Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH), The Australian National University
Ian McAuley, Fellow, Centre for Policy Development, Lecturer, Public Sector Finance, University of Canberra
4.50
Closing remarks from the Chair
5.00
End of day one
8.30
Coffee and networking
8.45
Welcome and speed networking session
8.50
Opening remarks from the Chair
Terry Barnes, Principal, 1805 Consulting
Terry Barnes, Principal, 1805 Consulting
AGEING POPULATION
9.00
Prioritising older patients in health care delivery
Ian Yates, Chief Executive, COTA Seniors Voice (Council on the Ageing)
- Health insurance issues for an ageing population
- Examining the health needs of elderly patients
- Investing in the health system to avoid future challenges
Ian Yates, Chief Executive, COTA Seniors Voice (Council on the Ageing)
MENTAL HEALTH
9.30
Making mental health a priority in national health services
David Crosbie, Chief Executive, Mental Health Council of Australia
- Mental health items covered by Medicare
- Realising the growth in demand of mental health
- What are the implications for health services?
- Enhancing accessibility to mental health care
David Crosbie, Chief Executive, Mental Health Council of Australia
DIAGNOSTICS
10.00
Assessing the changes to funding for diagnostics
Prof. Katherine McGrath, CEO, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
- Recent changes to diagnostics under the MBS
- Funding issues for diagnostic services
Prof. Katherine McGrath, CEO, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
OBSTETRICS
10.30
Improving equity and ease of access to obstetric practice and maternity care services
Dr Ted Weaver, President, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
- What are the changes to the MBS in obstetrics and maternity care?
- How will the changes ensure the highest quality of care for all patients?
Dr Ted Weaver, President, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
11.00
Morning tea
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
11.20
Remodelling the health care system and promoting structural change
John Dwyer AO, Emeritus Professor, UNSW and Founder, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
- What structural changes have been made to Primary Health Care?
- What are the challenges and risks within the existing healthcare system?
- How does the current reform aim to improve health service provision?
- Reform based on the need for health services rather than financial wealth
John Dwyer AO, Emeritus Professor, UNSW and Founder, Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
11.50
What could a comprehensive healthcare service look like?
Rod Wilson, CEO, Inner East Community Health Service
- How could Medicare further improve primary healthcare?
- How can Medicare better support team care and chronic illness management?
- Pooling resources to strengthen Primary Healthcare
- Addressing the causes of poor health
Rod Wilson, CEO, Inner East Community Health Service
GENERAL PRACTICE
12.20
On dealing with the elephant... Medicare
Dr. Raymond Seidler General Practitioner, Kings Cross and Medical Director, Eastern Sydney Division of General Practice
- What are the challenges for GPs?
- How can services be improved?
- Red tape +++
- Picking your way through the impenetrable bureaucracy
- It’s a dog’s breakfast
Dr. Raymond Seidler General Practitioner, Kings Cross and Medical Director, Eastern Sydney Division of General Practice
12.50
Lunch
NURSING AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS
1.50
Utilising the skills of nurse practitioners and supporting a team-based approach
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing Federation
- Why we need nurse practitioners covered by the MBS
- What are the new roles for nurse practitioners?
- Managing the interaction between GPs and nurses
Ged Kearney, Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing Federation
RURAL AND REMOTE CARE
2.20
Reskilling the primary care workforce and ensuring equal access to health care in rural and remote areas
A/Professor, Sabina Knight, Remote Area Nurse and Senior Lecturer, Centre for Remote Health
- Medicare as a tool for workforce planning
- How should Medicare look to support remote and rural practice?
- How is Medicare used to encourage health workers to relocate?
- What strategies are being used to support education and training?
- Why retain and retrain the existing health care workforce?
A/Professor, Sabina Knight, Remote Area Nurse and Senior Lecturer, Centre for Remote Health
CONSUMER HEALTH
2.50
Consumer health needs – an overview of the changes to Medicare that health consumers are seeking
Carol Bennett, CEO, Consumers Health Forum
- What services are consumers seeking?
- How this varies from what is provided?
- Will changes enhance equity and accessibility?
Carol Bennett, CEO, Consumers Health Forum
3.20
Closing remarks from Chair
3.30
End of conference
