A small business seminar organised by Hearing Business Alliance (HBA) for Perth in July 2024 will discuss proposed changes to the Hearing Services Program (HSP) that are likely to affect audiologists and audiometrists.
Mr Chris Carlile, assistant secretary of the Hearing Services Branch at the Department of Health and Aged Care, will give an update from the HSP while Mrs Jane MacDonald, HBA CEO, will discuss the alliance’s consultation on the proposed changes.
The department is exploring reducing the number of HSP Schedule items and says this is to minimise repetition, simplify claiming and improve patient outcomes. MacDonald said HBA welcomed the opportunity to consult with the department.
The department is considering reducing the Schedule of Service Items and Fees (the Schedule) underpinning the program to about 10 items.
“The day of learning, insightful discussions and networking with like-minded professionals and industry experts is open to all interested audiologists and audiometrists,” MacDonald said.
Speaker line-up
Other speakers at the 31 July seminar include Dr Brent Edwards PhD, director National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) who will give a global audiology update and discuss industry trends, and Dr Bec Bennett, NAL senior research audiologist, who will speak about enhancing audiology practice and navigating the digital frontier.
Ms Stacey Tonkin, Aon partnership and growth manager, health and professionals, will give an industry insight to mitigating practice exposure in the risk and insurance field.
Ethics in business will also be covered by Ms Clare Hewat, independent chair of The Ethics Review Committees for Audiology Australia, as well as the Australian College of Audiology (ACAud) and Hearing Aid Audiology Society of Australia (HAASA) merger.
Improving patient outcomes with gold standard hearing aid verification will be discussed by Mr Tony McGeough, sales director, hearing and balance, ANZ, Natus Medical.
Mr Stephen Logan, HBA business manager, and American audiologist Dr Cliff Olson will discuss a business opportunity with Olson’s HearingUp network for independent small business owners of audiology or audiometry practices in Australia who are members of the Hearing Business Alliance.
Olson, a former US marine, is an audiologist with hearing loss and one of the world’s best-known audiologists with 330,000 subscribers due to consumer-focused education videos he produces on youtube.
MacDonald will also give an update of alliance activities.
The seminar will be on 31 July 2024 from 9am-6pm AWST at Mercure Perth. Price is $195+GST for HBA members or $350+GST for non-HBA members. The event includes lunch and drinks and canapes at 5pm. Register here
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