Description of Conduct
On 8 May 2024, St. Luke's Medical and Hospital Benefits Association (St Lukes) lodged an application seeking authorisation to enter into and give effect to certain price capping provisions in agreements with dentists who participate in its dental partner provider network in Tasmania, and to issue metrics reports to dentists in its dental partner provider network regarding their services delivery and billing to St Lukes members.
St Lukes is a Tasmanian private health insurer that intends to open its own dental practices between 2024 and 2026. The provisions it sought authorisation for require participating dental partner providers in its network to adhere to maximum chargeable fees for particular services.
On 12 September 2024, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to St Lukes to issue metrics reports and for St Lukes and participating dentists to enter and give effect to the specified provisions where the dentists are in the same local catchment areas as any St Lukes’ dental practices. The ACCC proposed to grant authorisation for 5 years. The ACCC also granted interim authorisation to St Lukes to enter into, but not give effect to, the pricing arrangement provisions.
On 23 October 2024, the ACCC issued a final determination granting authorisation for 5 years, until 14 November 2029.
The ACCC’s final determination, draft determination and interim authorisation, and the application for authorisation are available below.
Applicant(s)
- ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL BENEFITS ASSOCIATION
Applications
Document title | Date | |
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Request to exclude information from the public register | ||
Application Received |
Decisions
Document title | Date | |
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Final Determination | ||
Draft Determination & Interim Authorisation Decision |