Applicant(s)
- The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited
Notification number(s)
- N96637
Summary
The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited (HCF) proposes to allow chiropractors, physios and podiatrists to participate in programs on condition that participating chiropractors, physios and podiatrists acquire electronic point of sale payment systems from the Health Industry Claims and Payment Service (HICAPS), or other providers nominated by HCF, such as CSC.
The ACCC notes that interested parties initially raised objections that the notified conduct may give rise to detriments through foreclosing competition in the market for the provision of health claiming systems. In response to these submissions HCF provided public submissions which set out the process by which HCF would approve additional providers of health claiming services, including which technical standards platforms must adopt to be accepted. In this regard, the ACCC notes that CSC has been approved as a supplier under these standards.
Having considered the notifications and submissions from HCF and interested parties, the ACCC does not intend to take further action in these matters at this stage. On the basis of the evidence currently available, the ACCC is satisfied that the likely benefit to the public from the notified conduct would outweigh the likely detriment to the public from the conduct.
As with any notification, the ACCC may act to remove the legal protection provided by the notification at a later stage if it is satisfied that the likely benefit to the public from the conduct will not outweigh the likely detriment to the public from the conduct. This may include, but is not limited to, a situation where HCF did not approve a health claiming provider which was able to meet the technical standards required to implement the no-gap claiming solution.
The ACCC notes that interested parties initially raised objections that the notified conduct may give rise to detriments through foreclosing competition in the market for the provision of health claiming systems. In response to these submissions HCF provided public submissions which set out the process by which HCF would approve additional providers of health claiming services, including which technical standards platforms must adopt to be accepted. In this regard, the ACCC notes that CSC has been approved as a supplier under these standards.
Having considered the notifications and submissions from HCF and interested parties, the ACCC does not intend to take further action in these matters at this stage. On the basis of the evidence currently available, the ACCC is satisfied that the likely benefit to the public from the notified conduct would outweigh the likely detriment to the public from the conduct.
As with any notification, the ACCC may act to remove the legal protection provided by the notification at a later stage if it is satisfied that the likely benefit to the public from the conduct will not outweigh the likely detriment to the public from the conduct. This may include, but is not limited to, a situation where HCF did not approve a health claiming provider which was able to meet the technical standards required to implement the no-gap claiming solution.
Notifications
| Document title | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Received |