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Media Centre
The Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) is committed to providing timely comment on current and emerging issues, and being responsive to media enquiries, as a vital conduit to the public. Media requests for comment should be directed to APHA's Director - Public Affairs, Partnerships and Events Lilly Tawadros on M: 0422 337 867 or via E: .
February 2024
- 28 Feb 2024
Private hospitals still struggling, despite health insurance membership increase
Despite more people in private hospitals, junk policies - or policies with exclusions - are on the rise. It means insured people are paying more but getting less. The resulting out-of-pocket costs are seeing people abandon care due to cost of living...
March 2024
- 5 Mar 2024
Health insurance premium increase should support private hospitals, not profits
The onus is now squarely on the health insurance companies to ensure the ongoing viability of Australia's private hospitals following today's average 3.03% premium increase announcement...
April 2024
- 12 Apr 2024
Opioid management program wins top award
An innovative program aimed at improving opioid management in a busy cancer hospital has won the APHA Award for Excellence in the 'Clinical excellence: Quality of care and patient outcomes' category...
- 12 Apr 2024
Program helping Australians manage post-cancer life wins award
The Icon Cancer Survivorship Program, from Icon Cancer Centre, has won the APHA Award for Excellence in the 'Consumer partnerships and engagement' category...
- 16 Apr 2024
Australian Private Hospitals Association CEO resigns after 24 years
The APHA bids a fond farewell to outgoing CEO Michael Roff after 30 years with the Association - 24 as CEO. We wish him all the best in retirement...
May 2024
- 1 May 2024
General Use Item decision welcomed by private hospitals
Private hospitals welcome Health Minister Mark Butler's decision to retain General Use Items (GUIs) on the Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products...
- 15 May 2024
New trial should improve mental health care access
The shortage of psychiatrists available to admit patients has resulted in private psychiatric hospital beds being left empty, while people needing urgent admission have had nowhere else to go. APHA hope this trial will help...
August 2024
- 19 Aug 2024
APHA appoints new CEO
The Board of the APHA announces the appointment of Brett Heffernan as the incoming CEO for the Association...
- 27 Aug 2024
Private hospital episodes of care bounce, but not enough
While encouraging to see growth in Australians accessing private hospital care, comparing 2019 and 2024 prices from insurers fails to stack up with the inflationary impacts of the past few years. Private hospitals are doing more and going backwards...
October 2024
- 18 Oct 2024
Peak bodies call for health insurance premium round reform
Without a mechanism to ensure health insurance companies pass on premium hikes to cover the actual costs of care, they will continue to pocket them as higher and higher profits. It needs to be fixed...
- 23 Oct 2024
Private health insurers push for vertical integration a threat to patient care
Concerned US-style managed care, where insurance companies call the shots on your health needs based on what they're prepared to pay, is making its way to Australia? Too late... It's already here...
November 2024
- 1 Nov 2024
Health check confirms private hospitals on knife's edge
After a year of talk the Federal Government's Health Check response is to say, 'yes the numbers show you're in a lot of trouble, let's have a chat about it'. Inaction will see more services close or hospitals fold...
- 22 Nov 2024
Healthscope dropping insurers 'a sign of things to come'
With private hospitals under sustained pressure from insurances companies who put profits before patients, more hospitals going out of contract with insurers is increasingly likely...
December 2024
- 4 Dec 2024
Private hospitals pose positive solutions to government's health crisis
- 16 Dec 2024
Private Health CEO Forum 2 setup to fail
Despite two years of evidence and waiting through 2024 on Health Minister Butler's much-touted Private Hospitals Viability Health Check, it contained not even a thought bubble. His CEO Forum is unrepresentative and designed to do nothing...