Our Reports

We regularly release reports both on our own and with partners. For access to reports released earlier than available here, please contact us.

30 September 2016 — Report

Medicare Benefits Schedule: Involving the public in the review process

Consumers Health Forum
This report includes a summary of findings and an appraisal of existing models used across the world to involve the public in heath technology assessment. It is intended to inform discussions of the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce about the ‘improvement of our Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)’ in order to ensure that it is ‘consistent with the latest clinical practice, or the best value healthcare’ . This report focusses on ways of improving the way the public are involved in the process of reviewing MBS Items.
22 September 2016 — Report

Consumer co-creation in health: innovating in Primary Health Networks

Consumers Health Forum, AHHA and Workshop Participants

This brief provides recommendations for health service providers including hospitals and Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to increase the role of consumers in designing healthcare services. It was put together by Policy Officer Rebecca Randall, following a workshop by AHHA and CHF, 'Consumer Engagement: How can PHNs & LHNs involve consumers in co-creation to improve healthcare?'

2 September 2016 — Report

BIOLOGIC AND BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES 2020: MAKING THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITIES

AusBiotech, CHF, Council of Australian Therapeutic Goods Advisory Group, Medicines Australia, NPS MedicineWise, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
This report captures multistakeholder perspectives on the opportunities afforded by biologic and biosimilar medicines in Australia and the key steps required to advance the evolving framework for the introduction and use of these medicines, in alignment with the National Medicines Policy.
1 August 2016 — Report

Patient-centred Healthcare Homes in Australia - Towards Successful Implementation

CHF, The George Institute for Global Health, RACGP, Menzies Centre

In Australia we are faced with a complex health system with entrenched practices, multiple layers and stakeholders divided across Federal and State systems, which is also often hard to navigate for both patient and provider. The question we must address is how do we ensure the Health Care Home can reach its potential in Australia and deliver the best outcomes for patients? This report outlines recommendations around the following guiding principles towards successful implementation.

2 April 2016 — Report

Putting the Consumer First

Consumers Health Forum, The George Institute for Global Health

To develop a framework for how this might happen in Australia, The George Institute for Global Health and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia partnered on a Special Policy Roundtable held in Sydney on 31 March 2016. Involving over 35 consumers, advocates, and health experts from a range of backgrounds, and representing key stakeholders (see list at end of report), these individuals developed the themes crystallised as recommendations in this report, based on the principles of consumer-centred care.

7 January 2016 — Report

Private Health Insurance Consumer Survey: Results and Discussion

Consumers Health Forum

The Government announced a review into private health insurance on 28 October 2015. In order to help inform the government’s review into private health insurance, the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) launched the online survey. CHF made its formal submission to the government’s review on 14 December 2015. The findings, discussion, and recommendations in this report should be viewed as a companion to the full submission.

5 August 2015 — Report

Working Together Guide, 2015 Update

Consumers Health Forum, Medicines Australia

The Working Together Guide  provides guidance and examples for building collaborative relationships between individuals, health consumer organisations and research-based pharmaceutical companies.

The Working Together Guide was developed by the Consumers Health Forum of Australia and Medicines Australia in 2005 and was first updated in 2008.

Find out more here.

17 June 2015 — Report

Pharmacists and Primary Health Care Consumer Survey Report

Consumers Health Forum

The major implication of these results for health policymakers is that defenders of traditional “silos” of medicine need to rethink what ought to be considered traditional roles for GPs and pharmacists. Moreover, if pharmacists are going to assume a greater role in the provision of primary care services, then the industry is going to have to think through what training and accommodation will be necessary to give consumers the confidence that these services do not compromise the quality they have come to expect from GPs.

1 June 2015 — Report

“Unique and essential”: a review of the role of consumer representatives in health decision-making

Jennifer Doggett for the Consumers Health Forum of Australia
The aim of this project was to review and assess the evidence that demonstrates the contributions and outcomes of consumer representation on health and medical Boards/Committees, in particular to document the impact of consumer representatives’ contribution to health policies, programs and services.
8 May 2014 — Report

Health Consumer Out-of-Pockets Costs Survey-Results and Analysis

Consumers Health Forum
We have long been concerned about the rising out of pocket costs impacting consumers’ access to quality health care. Beginning in January 2014, we ran a survey to collect consumers’ experiences with out of pocket costs. This survey received over 500 responses, and the stories consumers told were startling.

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