Australia’s only national private hospital operator, Healthscope, and health services company, Honeysuckle Health, have today announced a five-year strategic partnership.
The partnership will deliver simpler and more flexible funding terms and both parties will work together on the rising costs of providing quality private hospital care.
Healthscope and Honeysuckle Health will also collaborate on a range of initiatives to drive new, patient-focused models of care and funding,
Honeysuckle Health Chief Executive Rhod McKensey said the agreement will deliver benefits for patients, insurer partners and Healthscope hospitals and doctors. “This agreement represents a step change in the way funders and hospitals can collaborate to improve the private healthcare they offer for all parties,” Mr McKensey said.
“Embedded in the partnership is a commitment to co-develop innovative funding models that address the rising cost of providing quality private health care and ensure ongoing access for health fund members to high-quality care.
“We have been able to collaborate with Healthscope to deliver for our insurer partners innovation opportunities and efficiencies, along with rewards and incentives for improved patient outcomes. Importantly, all of this has been delivered without placing additional pressure on health fund premiums, with nib members the first to benefit from this focus on value.”
Healthscope Chief Commercial Officer Jenny Patton said the Healthscope team looked forward to working with Honeysuckle Health to continue delivering the best possible outcomes for patients in the right setting for each patient.
“In reaching this agreement, we have appreciated Honeysuckle’s understanding of the cost pressures facing private hospitals, including rising interest rates, food, energy and power charges, and a nursing workforce shortage. I’m delighted that we have also been able to agree simpler and more flexible funding terms that remove the administrative and compliance burden from hospitals,” Ms Patton said. “Through this long-term partnership we have created a care model that will foster innovation, best possible patient care and deliver fair funding.”
“As part of the partnership, Healthscope has committed to supporting the expansion of the Honeysuckle Buying Group, and will allow all new insurer participants immediate access to the benefits embedded in the new agreement.”
nib is a founding partner in Honeysuckle Health with the Cigna Group (Cigna) a global health company. Cigna has more than 190 million customer relationships throughout the world. nib provides health and medical insurance to more than 1.5 million Australian and New Zealand residents.
Healthscope is Australia’s only national private healthcare provider, operating 39 hospitals across the country, and employing more than 18,000 people.
If you have any questions please contact us via our contact us form
