Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

in reply—I thank senators for their contributions to this debate. I note the concerns regarding consultation, and the Department of Health and Ageing, I can assure you, will be consulting with stakeholders on implementation. The Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Bill 2009 will impose a levy on sponsors of joint replacement prostheses in order to fund the National Joint Replacement Registry. The registry provides invaluable post-market surveillance of joint replacement prostheses and also assists the industry by informing the development of new prostheses. As the industry derives considerable benefit from the registry, it is appropriate that its costs are now recovered from industry. The introduction of cost recovery arrangements will also produce $5 million in budget savings over four years.

Legislated cost recovery arrangements will ensure continuing and stable funding for the critical work of the registry and ensure that it can continue to provide data to improve patient outcomes. The government will determine the amount of levies through rules made under the legislation following consultation with the registry and the medical devices industry.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.