17 November 2006

Assurance on private health insurance for public patients

The Federal Government must ensure public patients would not be disadvantaged by proposed changes to the Private Health Insurance Bill 2006, NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos said today.

The draft Bill is being discussed at the Australian Health Minister's Conference in Sydney today.

Mr Hatzistergos said while he had no objection to extending private health insurance to a wider range of services, the proposed changes put patients at the mercy of health funds.

"We cannot have a situation where private insurers have the power to make clinical decisions and take away a patient's choice about who treats them or where they get treated," he said.

"I am concerned that patients will be prevented from using their private insurance for treatment in public hospitals or from other public providers.

"Patients must have a choice.

"These changes will affect many, many Australians, so I'm seeking assurances from the Federal Government they will not result in a reduction in the quality, cost or choice of care that patients receive.

"As the draft Bill stands, patients in rural areas could be particularly disadvantaged where there are no contracted private services available for them to use their private health insurance and health funds refuse to contract with public providers.

"Today I am seeking support from the Ministerial Council to pressure the Federal Government so that its proposed reforms put the interests of patients first, not the interests of health funds."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au