❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks the Minister for Health about funding for practitioners involved in voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services, specifically regarding remuneration inadequacies and administrative processes. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Board was unable to provide specific fee suggestions or identify which Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers are being used.
AnsweredQoN 1162Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 37 of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board Western Australia Annual Report 2021-22 that notes ‘[t]he
Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers available to remunerate practitioners
are insufficient to reasonably account for the time and effort involved [in
providing voluntary assisted dying services].
In Western Australia, most participating practitioners choose not to
charge voluntary assisted dying patients extra private fees and therefore
absorb the costs of providing these services.’
The recommendation is made by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board that
until Australian Government funding mechanisms are amended to address voluntary
assisted dying practitioner remuneration inadequacies, that the Western
Australian Government explore a funding model to support practitioners in
performing the administrative processes required to comply with the Voluntary
Assisted Dying Act 2019 ; and I ask: (a) what fee does the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board
suggest should be provided by the State Government to a practitioner in
providing each of the following services: (i) assessing a patient’s First Request and
submission of relevant form(s); (ii) completing a patient’s First Assessment and
submission of relevant form(s); (iii) completing a patient’s Consultation Assessment
and submission of relevant form(s); (iv) facilitating a patient’s Final Request and
submission of relevant form(s); (v) facilitating a patient’s Administration Decision
and submission of relevant form(s); (vi) practitioner
administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance and submission of
relevant form(s); and; and (vii) what Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers are
currently utilised by practitioners involved in each of the stages of a
patient’s request for voluntary assisted dying listed in (i) to (vi)?
Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers available to remunerate practitioners
are insufficient to reasonably account for the time and effort involved [in
providing voluntary assisted dying services].
In Western Australia, most participating practitioners choose not to
charge voluntary assisted dying patients extra private fees and therefore
absorb the costs of providing these services.’
The recommendation is made by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board that
until Australian Government funding mechanisms are amended to address voluntary
assisted dying practitioner remuneration inadequacies, that the Western
Australian Government explore a funding model to support practitioners in
performing the administrative processes required to comply with the Voluntary
Assisted Dying Act 2019 ; and I ask: (a) what fee does the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board
suggest should be provided by the State Government to a practitioner in
providing each of the following services: (i) assessing a patient’s First Request and
submission of relevant form(s); (ii) completing a patient’s First Assessment and
submission of relevant form(s); (iii) completing a patient’s Consultation Assessment
and submission of relevant form(s); (iv) facilitating a patient’s Final Request and
submission of relevant form(s); (v) facilitating a patient’s Administration Decision
and submission of relevant form(s); (vi) practitioner
administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance and submission of
relevant form(s); and; and (vii) what Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers are
currently utilised by practitioners involved in each of the stages of a
patient’s request for voluntary assisted dying listed in (i) to (vi)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Response time
1 days
(a) (i) – (vi) The Board is not in a position to determine specific fees to account for practitioner time and effort in performing the administrative processes required to comply with the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019. The Board has recommended the development of a funding model. Should such a model be developed, an appropriate fee schedule may form part of such a model.
(vii) The Board is not aware which Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers are being utilised by practitioners.
(vii) The Board is not aware which Medicare Benefit Schedule item numbers are being utilised by practitioners.
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