Home > For Health Professionals > Services > Pathology Services > Pathology Funding Agreement

Pathology Funding Agreement

Outcome Statement - Second Meeting of the Genetics Working Party, 15 March 2012

A statement of outcomes from the second meeting of the Genetics Working Party

Downloadable version of this document (PDF 35 KB)

The second meeting of the Genetics Working Party was held on Thursday, 15 March 2012 in Sydney.

New members

The Chair welcomed three new members to the GWP:

• A/Prof Bev Rowbotham, representing the Australian Medical Association;
• Dr Michael Buckley, representing the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia; and
• Dr David Abbott, from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and representing the Human Genetics Advisory Committee (HGAC).

Please see below for a full list of members and participants.

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference will be endorsed out of session, once final comments have been received from members. Once endorsed, the Terms of Reference will be published on the GWP website (address provided below).

Consultancy

Following the tender process for a consultant which was discussed at the last meeting, members were advised that the successful tenderer is Sironis Health. Members of Sironis were welcomed at this point, and participated in the remainder of the meeting.
Members noted that Sironis Health has already undertaken a key piece of work, an overview of genetic testing arrangements in selected countries, which will be developed further as the project progresses.

RCPA Survey 2011

As noted at the first meeting, the RCPA had completed a survey on genetic testing in 2006. Members were informed that the Department is in the process of engaging the RCPA to repeat this survey for 2011, with some additional questions to be asked of laboratories. Members provided feedback and suggestions on appropriate questions for the survey.

Stakeholder consultations

The Chair provided members with an update on progress under the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. The Department has established a website and email address for the genetics review.

All interested parties are invited to check the website for updates on the review, and to submit comments via the email address.

Discussions between the Department and the NHMRC have resulted in the appointment of Dr David Abbott to the GWP. The Department has also provided an update on the activities of the GWP to the HGAC meeting held on 6 March 2012.

Members noted that GWP member Dr Paul Fennessy has been appointed as Chair of the AHMAC Advisory Group on Human Genomic Health Services (AGHGHS), a cross-jurisdictional committee tasked with considering a number of genetic health issues. Dr Fennessy will provide an important link between the two committees. The
Department has also provided briefing for the next meeting of the AGHGHS, to be held on 30 March 2012.

The Department has also held discussions with the Australian Medical Association, resulting in the appointment of A/Prof Bev Rowbotham to the GWP.

Members endorsed the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, which will now be published on the website.

Discussion Paper development

Members noted the initial outline of the proposed GWP Discussion Paper. Members have been asked to nominate themselves to contribute to the development of a number of issues papers, which will form the body of the Discussion Paper. Sironis Health will be assisting with this process.

Sironis Health has also developed a comprehensive Project Plan to assist the GWP and the Department through the review process, which was discussed.

The Discussion Paper expected to be released for public consultation later this year.

Other business

Members noted that a number of new genetic tests will shortly be listed on the Pathology Services Table of the Medicare Benefits Schedule, and current gene patenting court cases may have implications for future genetics services development.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Genetics Working Party will be held on Wednesday, 13 June 2012, in Canberra.

Attendees and Apologies

Dr Richard Bartlett (Chair), Medical Benefits Division, Dept Health and Ageing
Professor Katherine McGrath, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
Dr Keith Byron, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
Dr Cynthia Roberts, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
Dr James Harraway, Australian Association of Pathology Practices
Dr Graeme Suthers, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Dr Michael Buckley, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Dr Bronwen Ross, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Dr Melody Caramins, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Prof Rodney Scott, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Prof David Ravine, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Prof Leslie Burnett, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Dr Glenn Francis, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Dr Cliff Meldrum, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Dr Elizabeth Algar, National Coalition of Public Pathology
Dr Lynda Campbell, Catholic Health Australia
Ms Sharon Van der Laan, Consumers’ Health Forum
A/Prof Julie McGaughran, Human Genetics Society of Australasia
Dr Kevin Carpenter, Human Genetics Society of Australasia
A/Prof Bev Rowbotham, Australian Medical Association
Prof Julia Potter, ACT Pathology and ANU Medical School
Dr Paul Fennessy, Health Technology Program, Department of Health, Victoria
A/Prof Roger Wilson, NSW Health
Apologies:
Dr Keith Byron, Australian Association of Pathology Practices.
Top of Page