Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review - Consultation 2

Overview

The Options Paper developed through the Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review (HTA Review) has been published. You can access it through the 'Related' documents link, located at the end of this page. 

This paper presents options for reform being considered by the Reference Committee to improve Australia’s HTA policies and methods and the funding and approval pathways.

The aim of this paper is to facilitate stakeholder feedback on the potential options for reform relating to:

• whether the proposed option/s will achieve the intended outcome
• what the potential impact on stakeholders may be, and
• any unintended outcomes or challenges stemming from the proposed options.

This Consultation phase will workshop the options for reform with stakeholders to understand potential implications and identify unintended outcomes.

Timeframe

The consultation commenced Thursday 25 January 2024. It will close at 23:59 AEDT on Friday 23 February 2024.

Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Policy and Methods Review (Review) is one of the key deliverables in the Strategic Agreement. The purpose of the HTA Review is to ensure Australia’s assessment processes keep pace with the rapid advances in health technology and minimise barriers to access.

Details about the HTA Review, its scope, initial consultations, and progress to date are available on the HTA Review webpage.

HTA Review Reference Committee

As outlined in the Strategic Agreement, the HTA Review is overseen by a Reference Committee. Appointments to the committee were announced by the Minister for Health on 27 October 2022.

Information on Reference Committee membership and functions are available on the HTA Review webpage.

Options for consultation

The Reference Committee has developed the options paper after thoroughly considering the evidence and input it has received to date.

The Reference Committee will consider the feedback received through this consultation, alongside other inputs, before deciding on final recommendations and delivering its final report.

Documents

To assist stakeholders the following documents are provided:

• Terms of reference (ToR)
• Consultation 2 plan
• Research and analysis papers
• Options Paper (see 'Related' documents at the end of this page)

How to take part

There will be opportunities to participate through: an online survey and attending an in-person or online workshops led by an independent facilitator. 

Online survey: 

• No question will be compulsory, you can choose to provide a response against as many or as few questions as you choose.
• Before the consultation closes, you have the option to leave an in-progress submission, and automatically be taken back to the last completed answer upon re-joining through the link below.
• The survey is hosted by an independent facilitator. You can access it at the bottom of the page.

Web and in-person workshops: 

• You will be asked to detail any organisations you represent and topic area/s of your interest.
• Stakeholders can nominate a maximum of two representatives to attend the consultation workshop.
• Registrations will close on 14 February 2024.
• The online workshops will be held on 13th, 15th, 16th February 2024, from 10AM - 1PM AEDT.
• The in-person workshop will be held in Sydney on 19th February 2024, from 9:30AM - 3:30PM AEDT.
• Workshop summaries will be in the consultation report.

Consultation scope

In Scope: Comments and feedback on the Options Paper in relation to the proposed HTA review scope.

Out of scope: Feedback to include or remove topics outside of the terms of reference. 

Accessibility arrangements

The HTA Review will seek to remedy any social, cultural, economic, and technical barriers for you to take part in the stakeholder engagement process. If you need alternative arrangements such as an interpreter, please email htareviewconsult@health.gov.au.

How will your submission and information be used

• Your submission and identifying information about you or your organisation will be made available in full to the HTA Review Reference Committee and may be summarised and analysed for review.
• Your submission and identifying information about you or your organisation may be made available to an entity engaged by the HTA Review to analyse submissions
• Unless requested otherwise, your submission and identifying information about you or your organisation will be published on the Department of Health and Aged Care Website and/or the Consultation Hub
• Your personal contact details will not be published. 

Privacy notice

Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and is being collected by the Department, via Citizen Space, for the purposes of conducting a consultation process in relation to the HTA Review. Find out how we manage the personal information we collect about you through the Consultation for the HTA Review.