The Australian Health Insurance Association and the Australian Private Hospitals Association have reached agreement on a Voluntary Code of Practice for Hospital Purchaser/Provider Agreement Negotations between Private Hospitals and Private Health Insurers.
The Code is designed to encourage best practice in contracting and is principally concerned with the negotiation process.
This includes ensuring the content of contracts includes provisions which are in the best interest of the parties. A principle objective of the Code is to introduce a framework based on principles of fairness and reasonableness in order to minimise disputes. However, the Code includes a detailed independent dispute resolution process with final reference to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, where parties have the irreconcilable differences in relation to the application of the Code to the negotiation process.
Download a full copy of the Hospital Code of Conduct Booklet.