Commentary on the private practice implications of the Deed of Settlement in the Honeysuckle Health – NIB Australian-Competition-Tribunal-hearing. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Looi, Jeffrey CL; Galambos, Gary; Pring, William; Allison, Stephen; Bastiampillai, Tarun; Kisely, Stephen R
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 31:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Private-health-insurance -- Managed-care -- Buying-Group -- Doctor-patient relationship -- Clinical independence; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/10398562221140993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: To provide a commentary on the implications of the Deed of Settlement in the Honeysuckle Health – nib Australian-Competition-Tribunal Hearing. This hearing has major implications in relation to the potential for a single dominant private-health-insurance buying-group to contract for medical-purchaser-provider-agreements that might limit the clinical autonomy of patients and psychiatrists. Conclusions: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) authorised the formation of a joint buying-group for private-health-insurers in 2021 to provide collective contracting and related services to private-health-insurers and other healthcare-payers. A consequent legal challenge resulted in a Deed of Settlement on 18 July 2022 that for 5 years preserves doctor-patient autonomy in clinical decision-making, the medical gaps scheme, the transparency of contractual arrangements, and if clinical data of those insured are collected by HH-nib, it must be with the full informed consent of patients. However, there remain options for private-health-insurers to apply for formation of new buying-groups, as well as to collect data and profile the general public and insured patients using online programs. Vigilance on private-health-insurer buying-groups, and the potential for US-style managed-care is warranted.