Most stakeholders support proposed changes to assessments in the Hearing Services Program (HSP) including removing Audiological Case Management items but major concerns remain, with the majority opposing proposed changes to fittings and follow-ups.
A summary of the consultation process, released on 11 July 2024, shows proposed changes to remote controls were also an area of concern with most opposed to these while half were unsure about only allowing two replacements per ear in a five-year period.
The majority of respondents supported proposals to amalgamate client review and rehabilitation items, changes to assistive listening device (ALD) supply, changes to replacements and spare devices, and changes to eligibility criteria for fitting.
The HSP publicly consulted this year on draft proposals to simplify and improve HSP items and program standards. Overall, 132 responses were received from hearing health stakeholders, including service providers, professional bodies, industry groups and practitioners, and 60 from the public, including HSP clients.
The Department of Health and Aged Care released results and themes of the consultation and said an external consultant had begun work on modelling a possible fee structure for the revised service items, based on the consultation process.
The department shared the proposal to improve the HSP with stakeholders on 20 February 2024 which included reducing the number of service items available, simplifying maintenance arrangements and improving program standards.
Two surveys were created to collect feedback; one from hearing health stakeholders on the proposed service items and a second general program client survey. Both were open from 20 February to 2 April 2024.
Program staff collated and reviewed stakeholder feedback and identified the main themes, concerns and suggestions.
Findings included:
Assessment
- 81% fully or partially supported the proposed changes to assessments.
- Nearly 70% supported removing the Audiological Case Management items.
- Respondents were keen to ensure clients continue to be appropriately referred for management when clinically indicated.
Clinical sessions
- 76% partially or fully supported amalgamating the client review and rehabilitation items into a new Clinical Session.
- 80% indicated that this item should be available annually for most clients as it provides a variety of holistic hearing loss management opportunities.
- 89% do not outsource rehabilitation and 84% would not outsource the proposed clinical session.
Fittings and follow-ups
- Most did not support or only partially supported the proposed changes to fittings (72%) and follow-ups (86%).
- Most comments (nearly 60%) indicated concern with the proposal to extend the time frame of the follow up and many suggested time frames based on their clinical experience (these ranged from one to four weeks post fitting).
Assistive Listening Device (ALD) Supply
- 77% fully or partially supported the changes to ALD supply.
- Many suggested a separate ALD follow-up to align with separate fitting and follow-up services for hearing devices ensuring consistency for staff.
Remote controls
- 74% did not support or only partially supported the proposed changes to remote controls.
- The most common concern (56% of responses) was that remote controls cannot be sourced for under the proposed cap amount.
- Many respondents suggested the program set the price for remote controls to align with the process for hearing aids and ALDs.
Replacements
- 84% partially or fully supported the changes to replacements.
- There was strong support (94%) for replacing the statutory declaration with the lost device declaration.
- 56% of respondents did not support or were unsure about the proposal to allow only two replacements per ear in a five-year period before requiring a revalidated service. Respondents expressed concerns that extra work would be required for more vulnerable clients with cognitive decline and/or living in aged care facilities.
- Some suggested that replacement devices should be available within the same category, tier or family – not ‘like for like’.
Spare devices
- 86% fully supported the proposed changes to spare devices.
Goal setting
- 65% fully or partially supported the proposed changes to goal setting.
- Nearly 30% suggested the program look at evidence-based approaches to setting client goals and to not just keep using the COSI.
Maintenance
- Nearly 60% fully or partially supported the proposed maintenance autopayments but were unsure of paying for repairs through a new separate item.
- There were mixed responses to removal of the maintenance co-payment with some suggesting that clients don’t mind paying it and that it helps clients realise the value of their devices and to take better care of devices.
Device eligibility criteria
- 55% fully or partially supported proposed changes to device eligibility criteria to introduce a tool to gauge motivation to take up advice to help with hearing loss including using a hearing device.
- 32% were unsure, reporting needing to see the proposed tool to assess device eligibility for initial fittings.
Eligibility Criteria for Refitting
- 76% fully or partially supported the changes to the ECR.
The department thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the consultation process and said feedback from the consultation would inform the updated service items and program standards
A webinar outlining costings, service item updates and client journeys will occur later in the year.
*The August-September edition of Hearing Practitioner Australia magazine will deliver in-depth coverage on results including comment from stakeholder organisations. Subscribe here.
More reading:
Proposal to simplify claiming for HSP
