Terms of Reference

Price regulation associated with the Prostheses List Framework, with particular reference to:

  1. the operation of relevant legislative and regulatory instruments;
  2. opportunities for creating a more competitive basis for the purchase and reimbursement of prostheses;
  3. the role and function of the Prostheses List Advisory Committee and its subcommittees;
  4. the cost of medical devices and prostheses for privately insured patients versus public hospital patients and patients in other countries;
  5. the impact the current Prostheses List Framework has on the affordability of private health insurance in Australia;
  6. the benefits of reforming the reference pricing system with Australian and international benchmarks;
  7. the benefits of any other pricing mechanism arrangements, including but not limited to those adopted by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, such as:
    1. mandatory price disclosure,
    2. value-based pricing, and
    3. reference pricing;
  8. price data and analytics to reveal the extent of, and where costs are being generated within, the supply chain, with a particular focus on the device categories of cardiac, Intra Ocular Lens Systems, hips, knees, spine and trauma;
  9. any interactions between Government decision-making and device manufacturers or stakeholders and their lobbyists;
  10. any implications for prostheses recipients of the National Disability Insurance Scheme transition period; and
  11. other related matters.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3515
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au