It is a privilege to chair the Clinical Advisory Committee and to present the committee’s Annual Report for 2018–19.

The Clinical Advisory Committee is a multidisciplinary group comprising members who bring extensive clinical knowledge, skills and expertise across many areas.

Drawing on this expertise and experience, the committee provides advice in relation to IHPA’s program of work.

In 2018–19, the Clinical Advisory Committee continued to provide input into the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2019–20, ensuring the policies outlined in it are clinically relevant and meet the needs of the clinical workforce. The committee provided advice and analysis to deliver clinically relevant National Efficient Price and National Efficient Cost Determinations for 2019–20.

The advisory committee played an essential role in providing clinical input to the options for pricing and funding for safety and quality reforms that were introduced as a result of the Addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement. This work included continued participation of the joint working party with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, regarding the clinical aspect of IHPA’s proposed funding options to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions.

The Clinical Advisory Committee also provided significant input into the development of national classification systems for emergency care, teaching and training, and mental health care. It provided substantial clinical advice on the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups Version 10.0 and Australian Modification of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases Eleventh Edition.

I would like to thank my fellow committee members for their meaningful contribution and thoughtful consideration of the complex and at times highly technical issues. I express my deep appreciation for their commitment to improving efficiency, accountability and transparency across the public healthcare system.

This year the Clinical Advisory Committee said goodbye to Ms Sue Davis. I want to thank Sue for her valuable contributions over the years.

On behalf of the Clinical Advisory Committee, I acknowledge and commend the Pricing Authority, the IHPA Chief Executive Officer and staff for delivering a successful program of work in 2018–19.

I look forward to continuing to lead the work of the Clinical Advisory Committee for the coming year, and welcome the opportunity to support the agency to drive its strategic agenda in the year ahead.

Associate Professor
Alasdair MacDonald
Chair, Clinical Advisory Committee
12 September 2019