I have now had an opportunity to browse this document.
It is downloadable from this page:
http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2009-12-07/index.cfm
As best I can tell what we get is an Health Identifier (HI) service which for the next few years will be operated my Medicare Australia (MA) – and the MA CEO becomes the HI Service Operator.
The HI Service will be established under its own Federal Act of Parliament, which is yet to be finalised and will be issued in draft for more discussion and consultation.
The service is to commence July 1, 2010.
The governance mechanism is basically via the Australian Health Minister’s Council (AHMC) – assisted by the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC).
Reports on how things are going to come to AHMC from MA and the Privacy Commissioner each September as I read it.
Just where the private sector fits in all this is simply not apparent at all!
The funding seems all to have been provided – via the grant to NEHTA - late last year.
If ever there is going to be a situation where the devil is in the detail of how all this will work it is this!
NEHTA needs to start a massive both consumer and professional education program real soon now!
I have also to say calling this whole thing a National Partnership for E-Health seems a little over the top to this observer!
David.
3 comments:
Isn't this just a farcical game of smoke and mirrors?
The Health Identifier (HI) service will be controlled and operated my Medicare Australia (MA) with MA CEO being the HI Service Operator.
What effective, influential role will NEHTA have in all this?
It looks more like NEHTA has been gazzumped into a corner of irrelevance. Maybe this observation is unfair. Has the private sector been involved at all and if so to what degree?
Does NEHTA hold the purse string control over this project or does MA?
Do you really think a MASSIVE consumer and professional education program should be started REAL SOON?
Hey, what happens if the project slips by one year or more? How much credibility will be destroyed and how disillusioned will the public become? How about getting the project developed and tested before beating the drum. If track records to-date at MA and NEHTA are anything to go by it would not be unreasonable to say you are being a little overzealous wouldn't you say?
I was giving them the benefit of the doubt on timing - but have to say I am pretty skeptical as I have indicated very often on the blog.
My point that a lot of education will be needed remains however. I agree it needs to be timed to actual delivery!
David.
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