MinterEllison has advised clients in the private health insurance industry for more than 30 years, giving us an in-depth understanding of the industry and regulatory regime. This includes a detailed understanding of the Private Health Insurance Act and its rules and regulations, the Health Insurance Act and the National Health Act.
We are aware of, and advise on, the key issues affecting the private health insurance sector, particularly from a legal, regulatory or procurement perspective. These issues include information technology (IT) and staffing challenges; the diversification of private health insurance products and restrictions on discounting and promotions; impediments to the take-up of preventative health initiatives; the potential impact of Commonwealth health reforms; the growing role for private health insurers in the broader health sector and a whole raft of commercial and regulatory issues (such as fund rules changes, notices to members and customer complaints, use and application of fund monies, borrowings and security).
We advise on the full spectrum of legal needs of private health insurers, including regulatory advice, mergers and acquisitions (including fund mergers and conversions to ‘for profit’), intellectual property and IT, human resources and industrial disputes, leasing, health infrastructure, competition issues, medical malpractice, and health information.
Our particular expertise is in health services procurement. We advise private health insurers, statutory authorities, government and private operators on health service purchasing contracts, ranging from complex purchaser/provider agreements for hospital treatment, to contracts for the provision of preventative health services. We have also advised on several significant technology procurement contracts in the health sector, including claims management systems and HiCaps.
Our clients include Medibank Private, Australian Unity, nib, HBF and CBHS Health Fund.