Category: Featured
DIGITAL HEALTH WILL BENEFIT PATIENT OUTCOMES
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The revelation sparked the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, to announced amendments to the legislation to assure Australians their records would not be readily available without the appropriate oversight.
The COAG Health Council unanimously endorsed the MyHealth Record legislation and the national opt-out approach.
In a joint statement COAG health ministers “reaffirmed their support of a national opt out approach to the MyHealth Record. Jurisdictions noted clinical advice about the benefits of MyHealth Record and expressed their strong support for MyHealth Record to support patient’s health. Ministers acknowledged some concerns in the community and noted actions proposed to provide community confidence, including strengthening privacy and security provisions of MyHealth Record.”
Speaking of the benefits of digital health for patients Australian Digital Health Agency CEO, Tim Kelsey, said “having a MyHealth Record means that your important health information such as allergies, current conditions and treatments, medicine details, and pathology and diagnostic imaging reports can be digitally stored in one place.”
“MyHealth Record also places Australians in control of their healthcare and gives authorised healthcare providers secure digital access to key health information at the point of care, wherever that may be,” Mr Kelsey said.
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) CEO Mr Ian Burgess echoed many of the healthcare stakeholders who spoke in support of the My Health Record.
“With MyHealth Record looking to store medical device information digitally it’s an invaluable step in the right direction. Storing a minimum set of information (brand, model, serial number) will also support better and more effiicent post-market surveillance.
“MyHealth Record data is critical to the implementation of value-based healthcare in Australia at a national or jurisdictional level and is consistent with Government’s desire to contain healthcare costs and move to a patient-centric approach to healthcare,” Mr Burgess said.
The nursing profession will be a major beneficiary and this week the Australian College of Nursing CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward indicated they have a major role in answering patient’s questions.
“Due to the role that nurses have as the interface of the health system, patients will turn to them to discuss participation in the initiative.
“Electronic health records will definitely improve clinical safety and ACN supports the introduction of My Health Record but protecting patient privacy is also a key priority for nurses, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward said.”
Catholic Health Australia CEO Suzanne Greenwood this week called on all Australians to rationally consider the transformative benefits of the My Health Record to patient treatment, particularly in complex aged care.
“Some in our sector estimate up to 25 per cent efficiency gains through reduced duplication of pathology tests, better coordinated care, and treatment decisions, particularly in aged care where older Australians are more likely to suffer from complex co-morbidities,” Ms Greenwood said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Four Journeys To A Career In MedTech
Day In The Life Of A Cardiac Technician
SETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT | LEADING CARDIOLOGIST DR DAVID O’DONNELL
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A disturbing and incorrect supposition has developed that doctors are not choosing the appropriate device for their patients and that patients outcomes are affected because of this.
Some important points need to be clarified:
1. Private patients in a Private hospital in Australia have world’s best procedural outcomes. Recent data from the GenesisCare network (Australia’s largest private cardiology group) has shown 30 day device complication rates that are up to 7 times lower than in the US or Europe and significantly better than the published complication rates in Australian public hospitals;
2. Private patients in a Private hospital in Australia have access to the best possible cardiac devices. The prosthesis list contains all of the currently available cardiac devices and the implanting cardiologist is free to choose any of these devices;
3. The implanting cardiologist in a Private hospital is responsible for the choice of device. I have not had any discussion with management about which device I implant and certainly no pressure by management to implant a specific device. This is not the case in many public hospitals where a tender process is typically conducted and a limited choice of devices is available;
4. The choice of cardiac device for a particular patient is complex and the implanting cardiologist considers many factors. The basic function of the device as a pacemaker, a defibrillator or a Cardiac resynchronization device is the fundamental decision. Beyond this, the extra features of the device are important – MRI conditional, Wireless, Remote Monitoring capable, multipolar leads, published reliability of the device and leads. Implantation and follow up of cardiac devices can be technically demanding and familiarity with implant tools and availability of technical support are important factors. Patient preference may also contribute to the decision;
5. It is not only ethically wrong but also against the recognized codes of conduct for an implanting cardiologist to choose a device based on pressure by hospital management or financial incentives. Each year as part of our registration, all doctors sign the Medical Board Code of Conduct, which states that good medical practice involves:
“Not asking for or accepting any inducement, gift or hospitality of more than trivial value, from companies that sell or market drugs or appliances or provide services that may affect, or be seen to affect, the way you prescribe for, treat or refer patients.”
A similar code of conduct from the MTAA prohibits device companies from offering incentives to implanting cardiologists.
6. It is my understanding that the price paid by a Health Fund for a cardiac device is set from Canberra via the prosthesis list. In this case, the commercial relationships between device companies and private hospitals would have no direct impact on device costs.
7. There is an underlying suggestion that doctors are upselling or inappropriately implanting cardiac devices. This is factually incorrect and distorts the most pressing issue related to cardiac devices. Most patients in Australia who are eligible for life saving cardiac devices do not receive these devices. Our implant rate is 40% of the US implant rate per million population and below many European countries. Whilst our overall implant rate is remarkably low, the situation is even worse for women, migrants, indigenous patients and patients of lower socioeconomic status who are consistently under implanted. From a medical viewpoint, the discussion on implantation of cardiac devices should focus on ensuring education and referral so that appropriate patients can access cardiac devices that have definitively been shown to prolong life.
A private patient in a private hospital in Australia receives the best possible cardiac device and has world best outcomes. The implanting cardiologist chooses the specific cardiac device and ethically and legally, this decision must be made in the best interests of our patient. Currently, the most pressing issue in Australia is the inappropriate lack of referral for implantation of life saving devices in eligible patients.[/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”2165″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr David O’Donnell is a founding partner and the Chairman of Heart Care Victoria. David graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1993 and trained as a Cardiologist in Melbourne before undertaking a fellowship at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. He returned to Melbourne in 2002 working at Austin Health as an Interventional Electrophysiologist, becoming Director of Electrophysiology in 2012.
David’s hospital career has focused on the newer techniques for ablation of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. In recent years his clinical and research emphasis has been in the device management of heart failure, pioneering a number of novel techniques for cardiac resynchronization. As a previous high performance athlete he has maintained a close involvement with elite athletes with heart conditions and has affiliations with a number of sporting clubs and organizations.
David has a passion for education and frequently lectures, educates and performs surgery around the world.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
MEDTECH INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO VOLUME DISCOUNT DEBATE
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The segment focused on medical technology companies providing volume discounts to private hospitals when they choose to use the devices they make, such as pacemakers, for their patients. The 7.30 Report alleged, as a result of the volume discounts, that private hospitals were receiving between 5-50% off the value of the medical devices as either a repayment or in-kind.
To support the allegations, 7.30 Report spoke with a legal expert who said he believed the rebates provided to hospitals were, in his opinion, equivalent to “kickbacks”, and accused medtech innovators of being anti-competitive.
However, PulseLine understands the practice of rebates was considered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2003, with the regulator being of the opinion that the conduct would not raise concerns under competition law.
The Medical Technology Association of Australia’s (MTAA) members abide by a Code of Practice which states that it “…ensures companies in the medtech industry conduct their arrangements with healthcare professionals in a transparent manner so decision-making on selection and use of products by doctors, or hospital purchasing departments, is based solely on the quality and suitability of the product, not on inducements (perceived or otherwise) paid to the doctor or any other decision-maker.”
While MTAA Code of Practice isn’t legislated, it has been used by the industry as a best practice guide for all medical technology companies to follow and has issued fines for breaches of the Code.
MTAA’s CEO, Ian Burgess, was interviewed by 7.30 Report, and said the industry opposed any action to constrain surgeon choice, whether it was being done by a private hospital or private health insurer.
“There should be one, and only one, consideration when deciding on which medical device to use and that is: which is in the best interest of the patient,” Mr Burgess said.
“MTAA rejects the characterisations made on the 7.30 Report of rebates being anti-competitive. The practice of providing rebates are in line with normal commercial arrangements that can apply across a number of markets in our economy”.
Mr Burgess confirmed MTAA does not have access to specific information about how suppliers and hospitals negotiate the supply of devices, and said he did not believe the association should be involved in individual discussions with medtech companies regarding their commercial arrangements.
The 7.30 Report story comes as public scrutiny continues over the rise in private health insurance premiums. In recent years the medtech industry has found itself the target of other special interest groups looking to shift the public’s focus away from their own practices as it relates to health insurance premium rises.
Just last year the medtech industry co-signed an Agreement with the Commonwealth Government that saw medtech innovators agree to cut their own prices by $1.1 billion, over four years, in order to have those cuts passed on as savings to Australians signed up for private health insurance.
PulseLine understands those cuts have already been credited with delivering the lowest premium increases for Australians in 17 years.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE FRUSTRATIONS CONTINUE
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ACCC’s call comes as the regulator released its annual report into the private health insurance industry. The report outlines the need for the industry to makes its products more consumer friendly by providing reliable and transparent information about product features and changes to private health insurance policies.
The report illustrates consumers’ growing frustration with the complexities of private health insurance policies and expected out-of-pocket costs that are leading to the regulator receiving increased complaints about policies, and signs that more consumers are choosing to abandon their hospital policies.
“Consumers rely on private health funds engaging with them honestly, so they can avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs and make informed decisions about the policies they choose,” ACCC Acting Chair Delia Rickard said.
“However, we’ve found it’s currently very difficult for consumers to properly compare and choose policies for their needs, meaning many are shocked when presented with expensive bills for medical services and products they thought they were covered for.”
The ACCC also found that rising private health insurance premiums remained a significant issue for consumers. The report showed that, in response to higher prices, consumers were shifting to lower-cost policies with greater exclusions or a higher excess, or simply dropping their cover altogether.
The ACCC’s report comes as the federal government focuses in on reforms to the sector in and effort to make private health insurance simpler and more affordable. As part of the reforms announced at the end of last year, the government will require private health insurance providers to categories their policies into a ‘gold/silver/bronze/basic’ arrangement.
The government’s reforms have already seen Australia’s medical technology (medtech) innovators accept a $1.1 billion cut, over four years, to help reduce the cost of private health insurance for consumers.
Medtech sector leaders were in Canberra last week for meetings with government and opposition decision-makers as part of an ongoing effort to ensure every cent of the $1.1 bullion cut is directly passed through to consumers.
The ACCC has said it will continue to closely consider competition and consumers aspects of any government reforms to the sector.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
MEDTECH IN CANBERRA
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Walking the corridors of power, medtech leaders, industry innovators and patients were among the majority of faces filling Parliament House. Led by the Medical Technology Association of Australia’s (MTAA) CEO, Ian Burgess, the leading voices of medtech had the chance to be heard en masse by some of the nation’s most influential ministers, shadow ministers and policy-makers.
The pilgrimage was part of the industry’s effort to strengthen ties between medtech and government, as well as to highlight the economic and life-changing benefits medtech delivers to Australians.
On Tuesday, industry leaders met with a number of senators and members, including Senator Kristina Keneally, Senator Amanda Stoker, Shadow Minister Ed Husic MP, and medtech champion John Alexander MP to name a few.
On the agenda were patient implant cards, value-based healthcare, and the Agreement, co-signed by the MTAA and the Federal Government, to help lower Private Health Insurance (PHI) premiums for Australians.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”2094″ img_size=”full”][vc_separator][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2095″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2096″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”2093″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Speaking to PulseLine MTAA’s Ian Burgess said the industry was pleased with the positive response from MPs and Senators during the delegation’s one-on-one meetings.
“These meetings with law-makers were an important opportunity for us to press the need for government regulations to keep pace with technology advancements in order to allow Australians to have access to the latest medical technology at the best value,” Mr Burgess said.
“Unfortunately, the prostheses list has not kept pace with these advances, meaning major health issues like atrial fibrillation, which affects 460,000 Australians, isn’t able to be treated with the latest catheter ablation technology because the prostheses list does not currently provide for the reimbursement of non-implantable devices.”
PulseLine understand the MTAA’s board, led by Johnson & Johnson’s Gavin Fox-Smith, also met for one-on-one discussions with both Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, and Shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen.
As the government and opposition both move into the election season, the board was determined to ensure the co-signed Agreement between industry and government is implemented in full, and the $1.1 billion in cuts to the industry are passed on to Australian consumers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2097″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
MEDTECH LIFE CHANGING IMPACT HEADS TO CANBERRA
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The event is expected to attract well over 100 attendees from the sector and policy-makers and will include speeches by both the Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, and Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King MP.
One of the patients telling their story will be former NSW Deputy Premier, the Hon. John Watkins AM who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven year ago, a condition he has kept private until earlier this year. In January he agreed to undergo a seven-hour operation to attach a pacemaker device with leads into his brain known as deep brain stimulation.
“I often wish I didn’t have Parkinson’s but I can’t help thinking that as I do I am very fortunate to live in Australia and have access to first class surgical technology such as deep brain stimulation,” Mr Watkins said.
“As the disease has progressed I have developed an overwhelming sense of gratitude for life and for the medical research that has given me another chance at that life. It means that I can again travel, continue to work, play with my grand-kids, go for a walk, roll over in bed, and be involved in life rather than being an observer. To live rather than watch life pass by.”
Jenny Casey, another medtech beneficiary, will also be in attendance to share her story. Ms Casey received catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation over a 5-year period, experiencing a staggering 15 attacks.
Atrial fibrillation is a major public health issue affecting around 460,000 Australians and is characterised by symptoms of shortness of breath, palpitations and chest pain. It is also associated with a 5 to 7-fold increase in the risk of stroke. The burden and impact of atrial fibrillation on our community is significant, financially and emotionally.
Along with the patients the event will hear from healthcare professionals speaking about the importance of co-designing devices with medical technology companies to deliver ongoing innovation which ultimately benefit patient outcomes.
Parliamentarians will be exposed to a range of technologies from the medical technology industry including an orthopaedic robotic arm and virtual reality device for the training of cataract removal.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Medtronic’s Omar Ishrak | The Future of Medical Devices
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Omar Ishrak has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic since June 2011. Medtronic is the world’s leading medical technology company, with $29 billion in annual revenue, and operations reaching more than 160 countries worldwide. Medtronic offers technologies and solutions to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiac and vascular diseases, respiratory, neurological and spinal conditions, diabetes, and more. The Medtronic Mission is to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions of people around the world.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
