If the device you wish to market is an implantable therapeutic device that remains with the patient when they leave the hospital, then you can access reimbursement through the Australian Department of Health’s Prostheses List. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-privatehealth-prostheseslist.htm If your device is eligible to be included than private health insurers must pay a specified price to the private hospital that uses the device over and above any negotiated DRG or case payment.
If you wish to market a device that is not implantable then access to reimbursement in private hospitals can be challenging. Examples of these types of products include catheters, ablation devices, or devices that are implantable and diagnostic but not necessarily therapeutic. Devices that are re-usable in other patients also face difficulties. In addition the guaranteed reimbursement of implantable devices can create perverse incentives that may disadvantage devices that are clinically superior but not implantable. None of this is insurmountable- however a reimbursement strategy must be carefully developed with thought given to the complexities of contracting arrangements between health insurers and private hospitals.
It may be more strategic to begin marketing your product in the Australian Public Hospital system. Universal free access to public hospitals has been in place for thirty years. Public hospitals in Australia are places of innovation and research. With the beginning of Activity Based Funding in all states on July 1 2014, there are excellent opportunities for products that can offer clinical and economic benefits. There is excellent public data that can be used to develop economic marketing tools for your medical device. Medtechnique Consulting can assist you with developing economically based marketing tools.