“When we have these ridiculous disputes between insurers and hospital groups it is always the patient who suffers,” Robson said.
“Running hospitals is one of the most expensive activities in the country now … it is a national embarrassment that health insurers are strangling off funding just when we have a public hospital crisis where waiting lists for planned surgery is at unprecedented levels.”
What this means for St Vincent’s patients insured by NIB
Patients who have started or scheduled their procedure or treatment before October 3 will still be covered under transitional agreements. For instance:
- rehab, mental health, oncology and renal services started before October 3 will be covered until April 4
- pre-booked pregnancy and birth will be covered until July 2025
What are my options if I need an admission after the agreement is terminated?
- Stay with your insurer and potentially pay significant out-of-pocket expenses for hospital accommodation, theatre and labour ward fees
- Transfer to a new health fund that has an agreement with the hospital
- Choose a different hospital that has an agreement with your insurer
Dr Paul Jansz, a cardiothoracic surgeon at St Vincent’s public and private hospitals in Darlinghurst, said private patients no longer fully covered will be pushed to the already overburdened public system.
“Unless the community and governments are willing to spend a large proportion of our GDP on our public healthcare system, we still need a strong private sector to take the pressure off,” Jansz said.
In June, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler launched a rapid review into the private hospital sector amid intense financial pressure threatening its future viability, with the Department of Health expected to report back at the end of August.
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More than 70 private hospital services have closed in the past five years as inflation dramatically increased hospitals’ costs, including wages, food, energy, personal protective equipment, IT, and maintenance.
St Vincent’s electricity bill will almost double between 2023 and 2024, from $6.5 million to $12 million, Blake said.
“This is not a decision we take lightly. This is the first time in our 176-year history that St Vincent’s has given notice to a private health fund that we intend to end our agreement. It’s an indication of how seriously we treat this matter,” he said.
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