News and Progress

Displacement of non-cost-effective technologies for resource re-investment/re-allocation

AHTA is building capacity in the burgeoning area known as disinvestment. This involves the development and application of epidemiological, economic, ethical and policy appraisals of existing health care interventions that are cost-ineffective or inappropriately applied within health care.

Displacement of these practices will make way for resource re-allocation towards practices and programs offering greater benefit. Research has currently focused on developments in the methodological and policy application areas related to disinvestment.

Publications and Presentations

Abstracts in peer-reviewed journals

Gutierrrez-Ibarluzea I, Elshaug AG (2009). Reallocating Resources in Health Care Systems: The Role of HTA Units in Identifying Existing Technologies of Low Added Value. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 38 (6, Supp), June: S.7.

Reports

Elshaug AG, Watt AM, Moss JR, and Hiller JE. Policy perspectives on the obsolescence of health technologies in Canada [unpublished internal manuscript – HTS Policy Forum discussion paper]. Ottawa: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH); 2009.

Invited Conference Presentations - Keynote/Plenary/Panel Sessions/Facilitator

Elshaug AG. Disinvestment. What are the implications for service planning? {Plenary}. National Health Service Planners Forum. Brisbane, November 26, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Disinvestment and Private Health Insurance: Investing in the Future. Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) Conference. Melbourne, November 10-12, 2009.

Hiller JE. Comparative effectiveness informing resource re-allocation: Implications for Private Health Insurance. Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) Conference. Melbourne, November 10-12, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Disinvestment: Policy Perspectives, Clinical Cases, Candidate Identification and Prioritisation {Plenary and Workshop Facilitator}. Southern Health and Victorian Department of Human Services, 1-Day Open-Invitation Disinvestment Workshop. Melbourne, August 27, 2009.

Hiller JE. Disinvestment: Policy Perspectives, Clinical Cases, Candidate Identification and Prioritisation {Presenter and Workshop Facilitator}. Southern Health and Victorian Department of Human Services, 1-Day Open-Invitation Disinvestment Workshop. Melbourne, August 27, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Reallocating Resources in Health Care Systems: The Role of HTA Units in Identifying Existing Technologies of Low Added Value. {Presenter and Chair of panel session} 6th Annual Meeting, Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi). Singapore, June 21-24, 2009. S7

Elshaug AG. Guideline development for Disinvestment. {Keynote Presenter and Workshop Facilitator} Osteba Multi-Sector Disinvestment Workshop. Bilbao, Spain, May 12-14, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Does Surgery Have a Role in the Treatment of OSA? A Health Policy Perspective. {Plenary} 3rd International Symposium on Surgery, Sleep and Breathing. International Surgical Sleep Society. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 8-9, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Assessment of clinical utility and implementation of change. {Plenary} Annual Scientific Education Symposium, Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB). Adelaide, Australia, May 1, 2009.

Conference Presentations (Oral)

Watt AM, Elshaug AG, Braunack-Mayer A, Moss JR, Buchan H, Wale J, Hiller JE, and the ASTUTE Health Study group. Assisted reproductive technologies and disinvestment: uncomfortable bedfellows? 6th Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) conference. November 25-27, 2009, Brisbane, Australia. p.38.

Braunack-Mayer A, Watt AM, Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Buchan H, Wale J, Hiller JE, and the ASTUTE Health Study group. Ethical implications of disinvesting from publicly accepted and available services. 6th Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) conference. November 25-27, 2009, Brisbane, Australia. p.38.

Invited Speaker Address (Government/Policy/Clinical/Academic)

Elshaug AG. Canadian Health Technology Strategy (HTS) Policy Forum (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health – CADTH), Ottawa, Canada. “Policy perspectives on the obsolescence of health technologies in Canada”. October 15, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Extended Leadership Team, Ambulatory & Primary Health Care Directorate, Central Northern Adelaide Health Service (CNAHS), S.A. Dept of Health. “Introducing disinvestment at the State health policy level”. Sept 30, 2009.

Elshaug AG. Medical Grand Round. Repatriation General Hospital, Adelaide. “Should health care delivery funding move to an outcomes based model? Sleep Medicine and beyond” August 5, 2009.

Health Policy Advisory Roles

Elshaug AG, Watt A, Moss JR, Hiller JE. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Policy Perspectives on the Obsolescence of Health Technologies in Canada - to stimulate discussion amongst members of the Canadian Health Technology Strategy (HTS) Policy Forum. 

Elshaug AG. Osteba: Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment, Osasun Saila - Health Department, Eusko Jaurlaritza, Basque Government, Spain. Critical appraisal, review and recommendations for the GuNFT Guidelines (Guideline for Not Funding Technologies in Hospitals).

Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Karnon J, Merlin T, Hiller JE. Medical Benefits Reviews Task Group, Medical Benefits Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Elshaug AG and Hiller JE. Ambulatory & Primary Health Care Services, Central Northern Adelaide Health Service (CNAHS), SA Health, Government of South Australia.

Elshaug AG and Hiller JE. Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA). Project: Disinvestment from unsafe, ineffective or inappropriately applied health care.