Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
-----
A surprisingly large amount of information this week with lots on telehealth and security and a larger than usual number of news releases with some interesting stuff.
Enjoy.
-----
UnitingCare cyber attack prompts suspension from My Health Record system, affects staff pay
By Rory Callinan and Matt Wordsworth
Posted May 1, 2021
A cyber attack has led to health and aged care provider UnitingCare Queensland being cut off from accessing the national My Health Record system.
Key points:
- UnitingCare Queensland's access to My Health Record system has been stopped as a precautionary measure
- Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said UnitingCare Queensland's data had "not been compromised"
- Cyber security experts say health care providers are common targets for hackers as they hold valuable information
The ABC has confirmed the Commonwealth's digital health watchdog moved on Tuesday to suspend the provider's access to the system that allows patients to view their records securely on any device connected to the internet at any time.
UnitingCare Queensland, which operates four hospitals and dozens of aged care and disability services around Queensland, was first hit in the attack on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), which oversees the My Health Record system, said it stopped UnitingCare Queensland's access to the system as a precautionary measure.
"[The suspension was] in line with our responsibilities as the system operator of the My Health Record system and associated national digital health infrastructure", the spokesman said.
-----
Telehealth gets extension after cost hits $2.8b so far
Matthew Cranston Economics correspondent
Apr 25, 2021 – 10.30pm
The Morrison government’s telehealth service, which has so far paid out $2.8 billion in benefits, will be extended to December to ensure that Australians can continue to see their GP, renew scripts and seek mental health support from their own home.
Already more than 54 million telehealth services, covered by Medicare under special COVID-19 subsidies, have been delivered to 13.5 million people. There had been growing calls for the service to be extended.
On Monday Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt will announce the program extension will be included in the May budget.
“This allows vulnerable Australians to feel protected and supported during these unprecedented times,” Mr Hunt said.
-----
Government to extend telehealth funding until end of 2021
By Katina Curtis
April 26, 2021 — 12.01am
Australians will be able to continue to access Medicare-subsidised telehealth services until the end of the year, with the federal government set to include a six-month extension in May’s budget.
The government rapidly rolled out telehealth subsidies in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic struck so Australians could continue to access GP, mental health and allied health services during lockdowns.
The Medicare arrangements were due to end on June 30, but Health Minister Greg Hunt will extend those until the end of the year while the government works with peak bodies to design a post-pandemic telehealth system.
“Over the last 12 months, telehealth services have been life-changing for many in need of support,” Mr Hunt said.
“The extension will ensure that Australians can continue to see their GP, renew scripts and seek mental health support from the safety of their own home. This allows vulnerable Australians to feel protected and supported during these unprecedented times.”
-----
https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/medicares-gp-telehealth-items-extended-until-2022
Medicare's GP telehealth items extended until 2022
Minister for Health Greg Hunt says the items are remaining in place while he hammers out a permanent funding system for telehealth
26th April 2021
Medicare’s $2.8 billion-a-year telehealth items will remain in place until the end of December while the Federal Government continues to figure out a permanent funding system for remote care.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt confirmed the extension on Sunday, saying it would apply to all the phone and video items added to the MBS last year.
This included items used by GPs, as well as psychologists, nurse practitioners and other specialists.
He said the total cost of Medicare rebates for the items had been more than $2.8 billion over 12 months.
-----
https://medicalrepublic.com.au/telehealth-items-extended-to-december/44466
26 April 2021
Telehealth items extended to December
ACRRM AMA COVID-19 General Practice RACGP Telehealth
By Holly Payne
Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced yet another extension on temporary COVID-19 telehealth items, confirming they will be here to stay until the end of the year.
At a press conference this afternoon, Mr Hunt announced that the government was investing a further $114 million in telehealth, as consultation on permanent items with peak doctors’ groups continued.
“Telehealth will be extended for the next six months from the 30th of June to the 31st of December whilst we co-design [permanent items] with the AMA, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine as well as allied health and specialists,” he said.
According to Mr Hunt, the incoming telehealth items would represent the largest single change in the delivery of Medicare, especially with regard to access to care for rural and remote Australians.
-----
https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/harmful-patients-doctors-protest-telehealth-cuts
'Harmful to patients': Doctors protest telehealth cuts
But the department says the decision to scrap dozens of phone items is based on advice from the MBS Review Taskforce
28th April 2021
By Kemal Atlay,
Doctors have blasted the Federal Government’s decision to scrap dozens of MBS items for telephone consults, saying it will disadvantage vulnerable patients who don’t have easy access to videoconferencing.
The government revealed on on Monday it was removing Medicare funding for level C and level D phone consults, along with the phone-based items for chronic disease management plans and health assessments.
It means that from July 1, just two GP phone items will remain, with rebates of $17.75 for consults lasting up to six minutes and $38.75 for those longer than six minutes.
However, funding for MBS video consults will also remain untouched for the time being.
The Department of Health said the changes were "informed by Medicare data and expert
-----
https://medicalrepublic.com.au/hold-the-line-telehealth-cuts-may-be-a-blessing-in-disguise/44614
28 April 2021
Hold the line! Telehealth cuts may be a blessing in disguise
General Practice Telehealth TheHill
While some medical bodies are protesting the cuts to MBS telephone-only rebates in July, others – including rural doctors – hope the nudge towards video will lead to better patient outcomes.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed on Monday that telehealth would continue to be subsidised for the rest of the year, with some items to be made permanent.
Although it was not mentioned as part of the announcement, The Medical Republic understands that as of 1 July GPs will only be able to bill Medicare for level A and B telephone consults.
All video consultation rebates, however, will remain at the same level.
-----
https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/why-rdaa-isnt-opposing-telehealth-cuts
Why the RDAA isn't opposing telehealth cuts
It's president Dr John Hall says the move to restrict consults by telephone makes sense
29th April 2021
The peak body for rural doctors has come out in support of the decision to axe dozens of Medicare items for GP telephone consults, saying “patients will ultimately benefit” by taking up video.
From 1 July, two GP items will remain for phone-based consults lasting up to six minutes (with a $17.75 rebate) and those longer than six minutes (with a $38.75 rebate).
A small number of items for phone-based mental health consults will also survive the cull, but other phone-based items for long consults, health assessments and care plans will be deleted.
RDAA president Dr John Hall defended the move, which he labelled a small but much-needed step away from low-quality phone-based care.
He cautioned against exaggerating the difficulties faced by rural patients in accessing the internet for video consults, or the need for long and complex consultations over the phone.
-----
https://medicalrepublic.com.au/a-few-of-your-video-consult-questions-answered/44652
29 April 2021
A closer look at video consults
This week’s move by the Department of Health to take away most of the temporary phone-based MBS items has some people wondering whether this was a not-so-subtle way to promote video consults.
Whether or not this is the case, GPs have expressed concern that a move toward video will harm their most vulnerable patients.
From July, doctors will only be able to access level A and B rebates for phone-based telehealth but will still be able to bill for all temporary video telehealth items.
Some of the telehealth services which can now only be done via video include chronic disease management plans, mental health service items and health assessments for Indigenous patients.
-----
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/full-clarity-on-telehealth-extension-not-expected
Full clarity on telehealth extension not expected until Federal Budget
But the Department of Health has revealed which mental health phone consultation MBS item numbers will remain beyond 30 June.
Matt Woodley
30 April, 2021
Patients will be able to access a number of Medicare Benefits
Schedule (MBS) item numbers to support extended mental health phone
consultations until at least 31 December.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt had earlier announced that Medicare-funded
longer phone consultations will not be included in the next temporary extension
of telehealth, but a Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson has since expanded
on the announcement, clarifying that some mental health phone items will
remain.
‘The broad range of GP attendances that were replicated for telephone delivery
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be replaced with a smaller number of
telephone items,’ the spokesperson said.
‘[However], certain mental health treatment services, including longer
consultations delivered by telephone will be retained. This will include items
such as 2712, 2713, 2721 and 2725.’
-----
The Health Wrap: COVID vaccines, telehealth, poverty and brain development, NZ health reform
Marie McInerney on: May 01, 2021
In this edition of The Health Wrap, Associate Professor Lesley Russell reports on many aspects of COVID-19 vaccine news, telehealth, how poverty may affect children’s brains, New Zealand’s health system revamp, and more.
Lesley Russell writes:
Telehealth: in the news and in the Budget
Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced that the telehealth items added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) during the pandemic and due to expire on June 30, will be extended for another six months, to the end of the year.
“The government continues to work with peak bodies to co-design permanent post pandemic telehealth as part of broader primary care reforms to modernise Medicare and provide flexibility of access to primary and allied healthcare services,” he said.
This Just-In-Time approach to extending these MBS items has been a feature of the Government’s approach to them from the very beginning: they were first introduced as temporary items in March 2020; on September 18, just days before they were due to expire on September 30, they were extended until March 31, 2021; and then on March 14 they were further extended until the end of the 2020-21 financial year.
The requirements for billing these items have also been changed a number of times, seemingly more to meet the demands of the medical profession rather than the needs of patients.
-----
A palliative care digital dashboard for the aged-care sector
By Dr Priyanka Vandersman and Professor Jennifer Tieman
Monday, 26 April, 2021
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows that three in five Australians over 65 years of age were clients of an aged-care program when they died, and that 43% of all people over 65 who died were living in residential aged care.1
The aging population increases pressure on aged-care provision and highlights the potential contribution of innovative approaches that support the identification and delivery of care to older people as they approach the end of their life, and who may have palliative care needs.2
The Technology Solutions stream of work conducted under the End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) project is looking at a range of technology innovations relevant to the care of older people at the end of life (EOL). Funded by the Australian Government, the ELDAC project is conducted by a national consortium of eight partners — three universities and five national agencies: Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Flinders University of South Australia (FUSA), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Palliative Care Australia (PCA), Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA), Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) and Catholic Health Australia (CHA).
-----
Digital resource launched for Aussies with Young Onset Parkinson's
Friday, 16 April, 2021
A free-to-download app and resource hub will help to support the 20,000+ young Australians (aged <50 years) living with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD).
Developed as a ‘living lab’ model, the Young Onset Parkinson’s Exchange (YOP-X) has been shaped by the first-hand knowledge and experiences of Australians living with YOPD.
Available to patients, carers, healthcare professionals and NDIS-contracted providers, the YOP-X app can now be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.
Despite the widespread misconception that Parkinson’s disease only affects older people, one in five of those afflicted actually experience symptoms before 50 years of age, and are classified as living with YOPD. The incidence of YOPD has increased by 40% over the past decade, with one Australian diagnosed every three hours.1–3
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr Fiona Kerr, founder and CEO of The NeuroTech Institute and member of the YOP-X project working party, said the YOP-X app will prove a critical support tool for those affected by the disease.
-----
https://medicalrepublic.com.au/active-ingredient-prescribing-prone-to-dangerous-errors/44427
26 April 2021
Active ingredient prescribing prone to dangerous errors
Clinical General Practice Medicolegal Pharmaceuticals
By Holly Payne
Just three months after active ingredient legislation kicked into action, GPs say hazardous blind spots in the system are becoming apparent.
Now, no matter what brand name is typed into the computer end of the prescription software, it will print with only the generic name.
Although GPs are still able to check a no-substitutions box when creating the prescription – which will then allow the brand name to be listed – Sydney GP Dr Ruth Ratner told The Medical Republic that this was a less-than-ideal workaround.
“The only way to get the brand name back [on the medication list] for somebody who has been on a drug for a long time is to delete it, re-write it and tick that box,” she said.
-----
https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/nurse-banned-snooping-colleagues-medical-records
Nurse banned for snooping in colleagues' medical records
She simply couldn’t wait to find out the sex of one coworker’s newborn, says the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal says.
28th April 2021
A nurse who snooped in hospital medical records to find out the gender of a colleague’s newborn baby and to discover why other coworkers were unwell has been banned for six months.
In total, the enrolled nurse from western NSW accessed the records of 13 people without permission 154 times between 2017-19, according to NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Among those whose privacy was breached were colleagues, a close friend and her own family members.
Eager to find out the gender of a colleague’s newborn, and if he finally had a daughter after four sons, she delved into his wife’s medical record, the tribunal heard.
-----
https://ajp.com.au/features/keeping-to-the-script-2/
Keeping to the script
One year on from the launch of electronic prescriptions in Australia where are we at now? And what are the next steps?
Was it only a year ago that Australia’s first paperless electronic prescription in primary care was successfully prescribed and dispensed?
Amazingly, it was on Wednesday 6 May 2020 that an e-script—which used the “token” model—was prescribed by Dr David Corbet at Anglesea Medical in Victoria and dispensed by pharmacist Jason Bratuskins at Anglesea Pharmacy.
From this simple beginning only a year ago, the use of ePrescriptions has skyrocketed, helped no doubt by the COVID-inspired growth of all things electronic and remote in healthcare.
According to the Australian Digital Health Agency, there have now (as of 9 April) been more than six million ePrescriptions issued to Australians.
-----
https://www.miragenews.com/integrating-electronic-prescriptions-into-552102/
April 30, 2021 8:40 am AEST
Integrating electronic prescriptions into pharmacy operations
The rollout of electronic prescriptions has expanded significantly over the past few months, with 97 per cent of all PBS-approved pharmacies now dispensing electronic prescription tokens.
The next phase in the rollout of electronic prescriptions is the Active Script List (ASL) in which a patient’s electronic prescriptions are consolidated in a digital list and can be accessed at any pharmacy without the need for tokens.
The ASL has multiple benefits for patients and pharmacists, particularly for those who take multiple medications.
The ASL framework has progressed through beta testing and will be available to pharmacies over the coming months, depending on their location and dispensary software provider.
-----
https://www.innovationaus.com/govt-report-on-covidsafe-app-long-overdue/
Govt report on COVIDSafe app long overdue
Denham
Sadler
Senior Reporter
28 April 2021
A six-monthly report required by legislation on the effectiveness of COVIDSafe has still not been completed by the government, despite the contact tracing app launching more than a year ago, and is not expected to be released for at least another month.
COVIDSafe was launched in April last year, using Bluetooth technology to theoretically log ‘close contacts’ between users, and send this information to state and territory health authorities if a user was diagnosed with COVID-19. In the year since it was launched, the app has only unearthed 17 new close contacts, all of which were in New South Wales.
The government has paid private contractors nearly $10 million for the development of COVIDSafe, and recently revealed that it will cost $100,000 per month to continue running, with a further $200,000 per month set aside for any necessary further changes.
A six monthly report on the effectiveness of COVIDSafe still hasn’t been produced by the govt
-----
ADHA outlines digital health in aged care plans
The Australian Digital Health Agency has developed a three-year program to drive the adoption and use of digital health in residential aged care homes in response to royal commission’s recommendations.
ADHA’s acting chief digital officer Rupert Lee provided an industry forum and update on the agency’s plans for the aged care sector arising from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s final report.
He said recommendation 68, which calls for a universal adoption of digital technologies and My Health Record, stood out most to the agency.
That recommendation includes that all providers of clinical or personal care must have a digital care management system with electronic medication management by July 2022.
“Consequently, the agency is initially focusing on residential aged care facilities,” Mr Lee told the ITAC April International Forum on Tuesday.
-----
https://www.healthcareit.com.au/article/startup-gets-epic-games-grant-expand-vr-training-platform
Startup gets Epic Games' grant to expand VR training platform
Thiru Gunasegaran | 30 Apr 2021
An Australian virtual reality startup was recently awarded a $100,000 grant (approximately AU$131,000) from Epic Games, the American video game company behind the online game Fortnite.
WHAT IT DOES
Launched in 2017, Vantari VR develops a VR training platform that uses flight-simulator-style technology to help doctors and students practice and perfect life-saving procedures. The platform integrates a virtual trainer and performance tracking mechanism to solve training issues in hospitals and universities.
WHY IT MATTERS
In a statement, the startup said the cash grant will help it expand its training platform globally, and in turn, save more lives.
"The funding from Epic MegaGrants is life-changing, not just for us, but for all of the up-and-coming doctors whose training will now be fine-tuned and fast-tracked, and for the thousands of patients whose lives will be saved by the drastic reduction in medical error," Vantari co-founder Dr. Nishanth Krishnananthan said.
-----
Australian addiction support platform eyes US expansion after closing $1.9M seed round
Thiru Gunasegaran | 26 Apr 2021
Arli, an addiction support platform based in Sydney, has raised $1.9 million (AU$2.5 million) in seed funding; proceeds will be used for its expansion into the US early next year.
The seed round was led by Folklore Ventures and venture capitalists such as Antler, AirTree Ventures and Simon Griffiths of toilet paper maker Who Gives A Crap.
WHAT IT DOES
Arli, which has yet to publicly launch, offers free coaching and support to people who are experiencing any type of addiction at all stages of their recovery.
Having the option to stay anonymous, users can subscribe to a one-on-one coaching service or join a group of 25 peers who are facing similar challenges. The platform also offers resources such as in-depth audio lessons, expert advice, and recovery stories.
WHY IT MATTERS
Arli says it wants to change the way people dealing with addiction access and experience support. The free online tool will not require users to travel to meetings or get waitlisted for rehabilitation.
-----
https://www.itwire.com/security/healthcare-provider-unitingcare-queensland-hit-by-ransomware.html
Tuesday, 27 April 2021 06:55
Healthcare provider UnitingCare Queensland hit by ransomware
Australian healthcare provider UnitingCare Queensland has been hit by what appears to be Windows ransomware, with the company saying it was hit by a "cyber incident" on Monday.
The statement said some of the organisation's digital and technology systems were inaccessible due to the incident.
Nine News said the impact due to ransomware and was much wider. The broadcaster reported that all operational systems, including internal staff email and booking of patient operations, forcing staff to use pen and paper instead.
It also said that the Wesley and St Andrews War Memorial Hospitals in Brisbane had their systems taken down.
-----
Doctor Care Anywhere says revenue to double in 2021
Simon Evans Senior Reporter
Apr 26, 2021 – 10.20am
Newly-listed telemedicine group Doctor Care Anywhere expects revenue to double in calendar 2021 as it benefits from a structural shift to online consultations, with chief executive Dr Bayju Thakar saying the group is also assessing acquisitions.
Dr Thakar expects a consolidation spree across the industry globally as bigger players seek to capitalise on the robust growth in the industry. He signalled that Doctor Care Anywhere intended to be an acquirer, and not be swallowed up itself.
“We’re definitely looking around the market. We absolutely are scanning the landscape,” Dr Thakar said.
The company is based in Britain and has Chess Depositary Receipts which trade on the ASX. The stock had an issue price of 80¢ in a $102 million initial public offering. The shares had gained 4.8 per cent in early trading on Monday morning to $1.08 by 10.10 AEST.
-----
https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/gps-lose-access-dozens-mbs-phone-items
GPs to lose access to dozens of MBS phone items
Almost all MBS telephone items will be scrapped, with just two remaining
27th April 2021
By Kemal Atlay
GPs are about to lose access to more than two dozen MBS items funding telephone consults as part of the Federal Government’s 'post-pandemic' telehealth revamp.
On Sunday, Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced that telehealth funding would remain in place until the end of December.
But he made no mention of plans to reconfigure or remove some of the existing telehealth items.
Australian Doctor has since discovered that that the telephone items will be scrapped from 1 July, with just two remaining covering calls lasting up to six minutes and calls of six minutes or longer.
They will have a schedule fee of $17.75 and $38.75, respectively.
-----
https://wildhealth.net.au/doh-pivots-gps-to-video-telehealth/
28 April 2021
DoH pivots GPs to video telehealth
As of 1 July, the federal government will drop 14 of the top paying COVID phone consultation items for GPs, leaving in place only two items for a short consult of less than six minutes for $17.75 and between six and twenty minutes for $38.75.
To claim any longer more complex telehealth consults – such as mental health assessments or management plans – which had paid upwards of $146 per item using a phone, GPs will have to use video after July 1.
In the report, RACGP president, Dr Karen Price, is quoted as saying that the move will significantly impact general practice’s ability to manage the COVID pandemic, and that it was effectively more “red tape” for GPs.
But March MBS figures suggest that the move won’t have a huge financial impact on GPs, who claim nearly 85 per cent of all telehealth money using the two low-end phone items.
According to our quick estimate from that data, in March GPs claimed a total of about $125m in COVID telehealth rebates, with $105 million coming from the short consult items up to $38.75.
-----
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b921c461-ef2e-46f8-af33-a09be0ff9c3f
TGA to expand regulatory oversight of personalised medical devices
Minter Ellison - Sonja Read, Vanessa Mellis, Claire Slunecko and Helaena Short
Australia April 22 2021
Some previously exempt custom-made and personalised medical devices (including some 3D printed devices) are now subject to new regulatory requirements. Several medical devices which were previously supplied in Australia under the exemption for custom-made medical devices will be 'patient matched medical devices' under the new framework, and must be notified to the TGA before 25 August 2021 to be eligible to comply with the transition arrangements until 1 November 2024.
Key takeouts
Following consultation from 2017 to 2019, the TGA has overhauled the existing regulatory framework for custom-made (including 3D printed) medical devices.
Some previously exempt custom-made devices will now be required to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods under a new classification for patient-matched medical devices. Other custom-made devices will also be subject to new regulatory requirements and reporting obligations.
All manufacturers and sellers of custom-made and other personalised medical devices should re-assess their position, and ensure they comply with the new regulatory framework.
Between 2017 to 2019, the Australian regulator for therapeutic goods (including medical devices), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), consulted on proposed changes to the medical device regulatory framework in Australia in relation to medical devices which are custom-made or 'personalised' for individual patients, including many 3D printed devices. Previously, all such devices were classified as custom-made medical devices (CMMDs) and were captured under a corresponding exemption.
However, rapid advances in computing technology and materials science have effected exponential change in medical device technology. This has altered the commercial use and corresponding risk profile of medical devices that are 'customised' for individual patients.
-----
Saturday, 24 April 2021 20:37
The Withings ScanWatch is the health tracking smartwatch that tracks all day, all night
French health wearable manufacturer Withings has released its own smartwatch to scan your vital parameters every second - all day, all night, with 30 days battery life.
Withings is dedicated to providing clinically validated and digitally connected health monitoring hardware that not only functions well but looks good too.
Previously, iTWire tested Withing’s Sleep Analyser and found it provided remarkable insights and detailed metrics with very low setup effort required, and then no ongoing work except to, well, go to sleep.
iTWire has now seen the ScanWatch too, and it is, as you might expect, a wristwatch, but it does more than tell the time. It is clinically validated for medical accuracy and tracks heart rate, irregular or high or low heartbeats, breathing disturbances, electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation, steps walked, distance walked, metabolic calories and total calories expenditure, automatically detected running duration and distance, automatically detected swimming duration and calories burned, sleep interruptions, deep and light sleep phases, and elevation both in metres and floors.
-----
Bionics Challenge to accelerate life-changing innovations
Monday, 19 April, 2021
Bionics Queensland is inviting Australia’s brightest minds to enter the Bionics Challenge 2021, a Queensland-led competition designed to unleash life-changing bionic discoveries. The Challenge will deliver $300,000 in prizes and program support to teams working on life-changing bionic implants, devices and treatments that will assist those impacted by road accident trauma, a disability, disease or chronic health conditions.
Bionics Queensland CEO Dr Robyn Stokes said the Bionics Challenge 2021 will welcome bionic thought leaders across the nation to foster homegrown innovation and accelerate healthcare solutions globally.
“We are inviting everyone from grassroots innovators and start-ups to experienced scientists, academics, clinicians, engineers, prosthetists, health practitioners and small businesses in AI and robotics,” Dr Stokes said. “People often refer to the ‘$6 Million Man or Woman’ when they hear the word ‘bionics’, but today bionics are becoming far more accessible and affordable.
“The continued research and advanced technology will see more people have access to bionic limbs, biofabricated implants, AI-enabled devices that deliver the work of an organ and brain-computer-interfaces that enable communication.”
-----
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/apac/aidh-targets-workforce-reform-across-network
AIDH targets workforce reform across network
The digital health body intends to achieve this through widespread upskilling and accreditation in the next four years.
April 26, 2021 11:28 PM
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health, Australia’s largest network of digital health professionals, has unveiled its four-year strategic plan focusing on workforce reform. AIDH said in a statement that "generational change" in healthcare can be made through an empowered health workforce today.
WHY IT MATTERS
AIDH aspires to maintain the progress made in digital health, especially telehealth and virtual care advancement which came to the forefront during COVID-19.
"Rolling back on telehealth, which leapt to public attention during the pandemic, is a mistake and there is a risk public confidence and momentum in digital health delivery will be lost," AIDH CEO Dr. Schaper warned.
She added that AIDH's members are already pursuing accreditation and training for their employees, including programmes starting from the basics of digital health to advanced courses on building capabilities across the sector. Senior board officials and executives are also being equipped with knowledge on digital health transformation.
-----
New Zealand tests app detecting early signs of COVID-19 on border workers
The monitoring tool uses AI technology to spot users' bodily changes that indicate potential infection.
April 29, 2021 03:51 AM
An app that can detect early signs of COVID-19 is currently being tried out on border workers in New Zealand.
The country’s health ministry is organising the month-long trial of the ëlarm app, which is installed in wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
WHAT IT DOES
ëlarm, which is developed by Auckland-based Datamine, uses AI to check physiological changes in users before they experience symptoms of the coronavirus. It calculates their "wellness risk score" every four hours, based on variations from their personalised health baseline. The changes are categorised into four levels: normal; slightly; moderately; and highly elevated, which are then communicated via e-mail and alerts.
WHY IT MATTERS
New Zealand is trying out the app on up to 500 border workers who are at high risk of getting infected with COVID-19.
-----
https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/nbn-co-s-latest-pricing-review-a-massive-waste-of-time.html
Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:24
NBN Co's latest pricing review 'a massive waste of time'
The NBN Co's latest pricing review appears to be a massive waste of time, with the company putting up ideas, ignoring feedback on all but minor issues and then just ploughing on with own agenda, one retail service provider says.
Damian Ivereigh, the chief executive of the Launceston-based RSP Launtel, told iTWire that the NBN Co's current idea of a "soft cap" on CVC charges to reduce risk was interesting, but appeared to be complicated.
"Complexity brings with it its own risk of miscalculation," he said. "This is compounded when NBN Co's account managers themselves are unable to give you a definitive answer and the general wisdom is 'see what turns up on the bill'."
The NBN Co's announcement on Wednesday said that it would propose a soft cap on variable data capacity charges and more generous data inclusions.
------
Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:50
NBN Co wholesale pricing model needs structural change: Budde
The NBN Co needs to undertake a structural change to its wholesale pricing model that takes into account the changing nature of broadband use in the wake of the pandemic, independent telecommunications analyst Paul Budde says.
He was reacting to the NBN Co's announcement on Wednesday that it would propose a soft cap on variable data capacity charges and more generous data inclusions.
"NBN Co keeps on fiddling in the margins regarding its wholesale price structure of which the CVC [connectivity virtual circuit] is the most hated element of the pricing," Budde told iTWire.
"The main complaint is that this price structure makes it impossible for the RSPs to have a good grip on their costs."
-----
Wednesday, 28 April 2021 16:57
ACMA updates Chapter 1 of its Communications and Media in Australia report 2020
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released another research report in its ‘Communications and media in Australia’ series, with headline figures showing 8.2 million terabytes of data downloaded, 9.6 billion voice minutes and more.
The report is titled "Communications and media in Australia: Supply and use of services 2019–20" and we're told it "provides information on the delivery of telecommunication, broadcasting and digital platform services in Australia from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020."
The research replaces Chapter 1 from ACMA's previously published communications report, and "highlights the ever-increasing use of products and services delivered by the communications and media sectors in Australia.
It also covers the communications infrastructure and systems that underpin and shape the adoption of technology in an increasingly interconnected environment."
The headline figures are:
- NBN: 7.44 million active NBN services in June 2020.
- Fixed-line phones (voice calls): 9.6 billion call minutes in 2019–20, down by half from 2015–16.
- Data downloaded: 8.2 million terabytes of data downloaded over fixed-line and mobile services in the 3 months to June 2020, compared to 6 million terabytes a year earlier.
- Subscription video on demand: 77% of Australian households now have at least one SVOD service, compared to 61% in 2017.
- Social networking: 72% of Australians used a social media platform in 2020, with an average of 4 social networking sites.
- Digital platforms: Using Google and Facebook make up approximately 40% of Australians’ time spent online.
-----
Wednesday, 28 April 2021 16:53
NBN Co's Pricing Review 2021 Consultation Paper: more data, 12 month soft cap and more
NBN Co is proposing a soft cap on variable data capacity charges, more generous data inclusions and says it will progress long-term pricing reform through a Special Access Undertaking (SAU) variation consultation with industry and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Summary of the Pricing Review 2021 Consultation Paper 2:
-
Soft cap for variable capacity charges, subject to industry feedback
- Data inclusions increased across most wholesale bundles discounts in the
Bundles Discount Roadmap for the two years to April 2023
- Data inclusions increased for the 250/100 Business Bundle and brought forward
to December 2021
- Long-term evolution of wholesale pricing model to be part of a Special Access
Undertaking variation consultation with industry and the Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission.
We're told the Pricing Review 2021 Consultation Paper 2 (PDF link), released today, "takes into consideration industry feedback received via 14 submissions from all major internet retailers, representing 95% of the retail market, and key consumer advocacy groups during the five-week, first-round consultation period."
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/optus-blasts-nbn-price-consultations-as-a-waste-of-time-563919
Optus blasts NBN price consultations as 'a waste of time'
By Ry Crozier on Apr 28, 2021 5:22PM
Other internet providers also left unimpressed.
Optus has led criticism of NBN Co’s latest ideas on pricing, saying such consultations were proving to be “a waste of time”, as other retailers were left similarly underwhelmed.
NBN Co on Wednesday outlined several new price proposals, including small bandwidth increases to its service bundles in the short-term, a one-year ‘soft cap’ on excess bandwidth charges, and a fast-tracked discussion of longer-term price changes.
But Optus vice president of regulatory and public affairs Andrew Sheridan indicated that he felt retailers and customers still weren’t being listened to.
“These consultations are a waste of time if NBN Co simply ignores feedback, fails to consider the needs of customers and continues to maintain the fiction that prices are going down,” Sheridan said.
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/accc-moves-quickly-to-retake-control-of-nbn-pricing-563911
ACCC moves quickly to retake control of NBN pricing
By Ry Crozier on Apr 28, 2021 2:58PM
Could ultimately end the era of "sugar hit" discounts.
NBN Co, retail service providers and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will attend a roundtable in June to kickstart the conversation on long-term NBN pricing.
The announcement came hours after NBN Co said it would not try to run a consultation on long-term pricing itself but would ask the ACCC to run the process instead.
The move fast-tracks discussions that NBN Co had earlier sought to delay until FY23, drawing considerable ire from the internet industry.
“This is the start of a long reform process that would effectively put NBN pricing under the ACCC’s regulatory umbrella, and would improve access pricing for NBN Co customers,” ACCC chair Rod Sims said in a statement.
-----
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-wont-release-its-flat-rate-price-modelling-563915
NBN Co won't release its flat-rate price modelling
By Ry Crozier on Apr 28, 2021 3:39PM
Says it would be 'counter-productive' to future discussions.
NBN Co has decided not to share internal modelling of a flat-rate price for wholesale services, despite requests from many major providers to do so.
The network operator is set to enter discussions with retail service providers (RSPs) from as early as next month on the long-term future of its pricing model, in a process to be convened by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Retailers have consistently said they see the future of NBN pricing to be a single flat-rate charge per service, rather than the current structure where they pay a fixed component and then a variable component called connectivity virtual circuit (CVC).
Despite this, NBN Co did not raise it as an option in a pricing consultation of its own, and instead sought to defer all conversation until FY23.
-----
NBN Co may cap excess bandwidth charges paid by internet providers
By Ry Crozier on Apr 28, 2021 10:11AM
Commits to fast-track long-term pricing discussions via ACCC.
NBN Co is proposing to introduce a conditional ‘soft cap’ on the excess bandwidth charges that internet providers incur as broadband usage increases.
The soft cap idea is contained in a follow-up consultation paper as part of NBN Co’s current pricing inquiry, and is touted as a response to calls from the likes of Aussie Broadband to reinstate a bandwidth bonus that ran through much of 2020.
Reinstating that specific excess fee holiday is “not financially sustainable in the long-term,” NBN Co said today.
In its place, however, the company is proposing to introduce a “soft cap” on excess charges, assuming certain conditions are met.
-----
Privacy Policy.https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-sources-26bn-from-us-bond-markets-563845
NBN Co sources $2.6bn from US bond markets
By Staff Writer on Apr 27, 2021 2:15PM
Will put towards govt loan and ongoing capex.
NBN Co said it had secured US$2 billion (A$2.6 billion) from the US bond markets, which it would put towards its existing government loan and ongoing capital expenditure.
The network operator said in a statement that the bond issue comprised “a five-year bond of $US750m and a 10-year bond of $US1.25 billion.”
The five-year bond will mature in May 2026, while the 10-year bond will mature in May 2031.
“The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes including the refinancing of NBN Co’s Commonwealth loan and to fund future capex plans,” it said.
-----
https://www.afr.com/street-talk/nbn-co-picks-up-us2b-in-us-bond-markets-20210427-p57mov
NBN Co picks up $US2b in US bond markets
Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd
Apr 27, 2021 – 9.53am
NBN Co has wrapped up its trip to US capital markets with a $US2 billion ($2.58 billion) bond deal.
The broadband network owner and its brokers launched the deal overnight and priced it early on Tuesday morning.
The company issued bonds worth $US2 billion split into five and 10-year tenors.
The five year bonds raised $US750 million, while the 10-years picked up the other $US1.25 billion.
-----
China has lift off with Tianhe in bid to build its own space station
· The Times
Tianhe, the 54ft module carried into orbit yesterday to form the backbone of China’s future space station, translates as “harmony of the heavens”.
Even as Beijing celebrated its first step towards a permanent manned presence in orbit, though, there was little sign that the intensifying race for space dominance will lead to harmony between world powers.
“As we’ve been restricted and constrained by some countries in our development path, China’s space program must depend on itself,” Zhou Jianping, the chief engineer for China’s manned space program, told state media after the launch.
China hopes to complete the 66-tonne, T-shaped Tiangong ("heaven’s palace") station by the end of next year, rivalling the International Space Station (ISS) as the only fully operational space habitat. It will be a fraction of the size of the ISS, but will mark a breakthrough for China, which is not part of the international consortium behind the rival station.
------
Enjoy!
David.
