NIB to launch healthcare directory
While previous plans were shouted down by industry bodies, NIB has confirmed that the site - called Whitecoat - will be launched later this year.
Whitecoat will provide a directory of healthcare sites, customer service and comparative cost data.
It will not cover general practitioners and medical specialists. The Australian Medical Association argues that one person's bad experience is more likely to be aired than the good experiences of 99 people.
"We expressed concerns about this some time back," federal AMA president Steve Hambleton told BusinessDay.
"When you provide a forum for people to rate practitioners, inevitably you're inviting people who want to berate practitioners."
Karin Alexander, president of the Australian Dental Association, said the group had advised its members to opt out of Whitecoat and was waiting on guidance of whether the site would breach laws banning registered dentists from using testimonials in advertising. She said it would difficult for the public to appreciate "reasonable reasons for differences in costs". But NIB's managing director, Mark Fitzgibbon, said the purpose of Whitecoat was to help all consumers make better purchasing decisions. "We expect the site to be very popular," he said.
NIB has been writing to members asking them to rate their recent experience with an allied health provider.
Members are encouraged to fill in a survey questioning how likely or unlikely they are to recommend the practitioner to family and friends over the next 12 months, and to offer "any feedback for NIB that could improve products and services".
In its 2013 results, NIB said claims paid for "ancillary" or extras services had increased 11.4 per cent to $274.5 million.
Ancillary services rebated by NIB are dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic, natural therapies, osteopathy, pharmacy, podiatry and acupuncture.
"Dental utilisation has increased since the cessation of the government's Chronic Disease Dental scheme on December 1, 2012," it said. "The optical market has seen increased competition over the past few years, potentially putting downward pressure on service costs. Physio and chiro inflation generally moves in line with changes in service costs. Natural therapies continue to rise in popularity among consumers, experiencing the highest rates of utilisation inflation."
Grahame Danaher, managing director of insurer Westfund, said members were "generally happy" with their allied health providers.
Another health services feedback site, Patient Opinion Australia, said it had amassed almost 350 stories since starting in March 2012.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Whitecoat is a new NIB-run website that will rate and compare health professionals (for example dentists, optometrists and chiropractors) and provide a directory, customer service information and comparative cost data. NIB has confirmed the site will be launched later this year.
Whitecoat is focused on allied and ancillary providers such as dentists, optometrists and chiropractors (and other extras services). It will not cover general practitioners or medical specialists.
Industry groups have raised objections: the Australian Medical Association warned rating forums can attract people who air negative experiences more than positive ones, while the Australian Dental Association advised members to opt out and is concerned about whether the site could breach rules that limit testimonials and whether the public will understand legitimate reasons for cost differences.
NIB has been writing to its members asking them to rate their recent experience with allied health providers. Members are being asked to complete surveys that include how likely they are to recommend a practitioner over the next 12 months and to give any feedback that could improve NIB products and services.
In its 2013 results NIB said claims paid for ancillary or extras services rose 11.4% to $274.5 million. NIB listed ancillary services it rebates, including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic, natural therapies, osteopathy, pharmacy, podiatry and acupuncture.
Yes. NIB said dental utilisation increased after the government’s Chronic Disease Dental scheme ended on December 1, 2012. The optical market has seen increased competition that may put downward pressure on costs, while natural therapies are growing in popularity and showing higher rates of utilisation inflation.
Westfund managing director Grahame Danaher said members are generally happy with their allied health providers. Separately, Patient Opinion Australia — another health services feedback site — had amassed almost 350 stories since launching in March 2012.
NIB managing director Mark Fitzgibbon said the purpose of Whitecoat is to help consumers make better purchasing decisions. He also said the company expects the site to be very popular.
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