Service Provider Contract Redevelopment

The Department of Health is responsible for managing and administering the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. This page will provide updates on the redevelopment of the Service Provider Contract for the voucher component of the program.

The subordinate legislation for the Hearing Services Program has been reviewed in consultation with stakeholders. Feedback on the exposure draft of a proposed single legislative instrument is being considered by government. Changes to the program’s legislation will have implications for the contract.

Service Provider Contract

Contract Extension

As notified in CSPN 2019/02 – Thematic Review – Consultation on Draft Legislation, the existing contracts have been extended to 30 September 2019 to align with the commencement date of the new legislation of 1 October 2019. All existing contracted service providers who are continuing after 30 June 2019 have been sent a Notice of Extension.

Contract Redevelopment

A revised contract is now available for consultation. The revised drafts has consolidated and clarified requirements. The department will consult with key stakeholders, including service providers, practitioner professional bodies, consumer representatives and industry groups to obtain feedback on the proposed changes.

Pending the new legislation, a new contract is planned to commence on 1 October 2019.

Schedule of Service Items

As the new legislation and contract are not scheduled to commence until 1 October 2019, the existing Schedule of Service Items, Schedule of Fees, and program standards will be consolidated into a new Schedule of Service Items and Fees. The requirements will remain largely unchanged for the remainder of the 2019-20 financial year, except there will be three minor edits to service items and fee information. These changes cover the removal of minor maintenance service items, clarification to audiological case management service items and changes to client payment information stemming from the instrument consultation

So that providers will no longer need to cross reference against the Act, Instruments, contract, standards, evidence guide, and fees schedule for requirements for individual service items, the department will work with consumer and hearing sector representatives during 2019-20 to review the existing schedules, hearing rehabilitation outcomes and standards to finalise the updates to the Schedule of Service Items and Fees by 1 July 2020.

New Arrangements

The need to cross reference between a range of legislation, program standards, hearing rehabilitation outcomes, guidelines and criteria will be substantially reduced.

An overview of the existing and proposed arrangements for the voucher component of the program is outlined below.

New Arrangements                                                            

The need to cross reference between a range of legislation, program standards, hearing rehabilitation outcomes, guidelines and criteria will be substantially reduced.

An overview of the existing and proposed arrangements for the voucher component of the program is outlined below.

Timeframes

Note: The above timeframes will be dependent on government consideration of the new legislation.

Communication and Consultation

The department will continue to liaise with providers and other key stakeholders over the coming months. Updates will be published on the program website and through Contracted Service Provider Notices (CSPNs). If you would like to be updated please ensure you are registered for the RSS Feeds.

The consultation documents, timeframes and information on how to submit feedback is available on the Service Provider Contract Consultation page.

Contracted Service Provider Notices

Additional Information

If you have any queries regarding the contract redevelopment or your contract with the department, please email hearing@health.gov.au, attention Program Management.