Announcement Date
21 November 2024
Link to Announcement
Problem Being Addressed
Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports are not reliably available to consumers and their healthcare providers. Consumers expect a more connected experience where their health information follows them so they can fully participate and be partners in their own healthcare. Further, there are fragmented patient outcomes and experiences of care.
Proposal
Option 1 would create a legislative requirement on prescribed healthcare providers to share key health information to consumers’ My Health Record (preferred option).
Option 2 would see the maintenance of the current status quo where it would remain voluntary for pathology and diagnostic imaging providers to upload reports to My Health Record.
Costs and Benefits of Preferred Option
Option 1 would see benefits in the reduction of duplicate/ unnecessary pathology and diagnostic imaging tests. This would in turn benefit consumers in reducing unnecessary follow up appointments. Healthcare providers would also benefit from workflow efficiencies. Pathology and diagnostic imaging providers would have some costs in the first year to uplift their workforce and for some providers to connect to My Health Record conformant software.
Assessed Impact Analysis Outcome
Good Practice
Assessment Comments
The analysis in the IA is good quality overall. The IA addresses the seven IA questions and follows an appropriate policy development process commensurate with the significance of the problem and magnitude of the proposed intervention. In particular, the IA includes a good canvassing of the problem, options and high-quality analysis of the costs and benefits.
To achieve an exemplary rating, the analysis in the IA could be improved by including further detail on the consultation process as well as the implementation and evaluation plan.
Regulatory Burden
The Department of Health and Aged Care estimates these measures will result in an increase in average regulatory costs of $10.94 million in the first year. Costs for ongoing years will be determined following evaluation and monitoring of mandate outcomes.