New Technology Program Funding in 2010-11

Changes to the 2010-11 New Technology Program (NTP) funding submission process have been informed by the recently completed Review of the Victorian Policy and Advisory Committee on Clinical Practice and Technology and consultation with health services.

For NTP funding consideration in 2010-11, applications will require submission of an Expression of Interest. 

The deadline for health services to tender an Expressions of Interest is Wednesday 26 August 2009. 

Only short-listed Expressions of Interest will be developed into a Full Submission for VPACT consideration.

The deadline for health services to tender Full Submissions is Friday 11 December 2009. 
The 2010-11 Expression of Interest proforma can be downloaded from this website.  The Full Submission proforma will be available for download in September 2009.  Health services, including Chief Executive Officers and New Technology Committee Chairs, will be notified of Full Submission proforma availability.

The new submission process and deadlines for the 2010-11 NTP will provide health services with the following opportunities:

• Better utilisation of resources regarding the revised submission process
• Early identification of applications not suitable for the NTP, thus minimising health service efforts in developing a Full Submission that might not be short-listed
• An opportunity for the department to identify possible collaborations or joint applications for health services interested in similar/identical health technologies
• More time for health services to develop the Full Submission
• More time for consultation between the department and health services for implementation from 1 July 2010 and evaluation requirements.

A health technology is defined as one of the following: prosthesis, implantable device, diagnostic test, medical procedure, surgical procedure or high cost pharmaceutical.

Timelines for 2010-11 New Technology Program submissions

Procedure for submissions to the 2010-11 New Technology Program

Health services seeking funding from the department to introduce a new health technology in 2010-11 must first submit an Expression of Interest using the proforma endorsed by VPACT.  The Expression of Interest proforma is available for download from this web page. 

If the Expression of Interest is short-listed by VPACT, health services will be requested to develop a Full Submission using the Full Submission proforma endorsed by VPACT. The Full Submission proforma will be available for download from this web page in September 2009. 

Where a joint Expression of Interest or Full Submission is made on behalf of more than one health service:

• One health service will identify itself as the principal contact
• The lead health service will be responsible for communicating on behalf of all participating health services
• All health service New Technology Committees and Chief Executive Officers will endorse the Expression of Interest
• All health service Chief Executive Officers, and other relevant staff (e.g. Chief Finance Officer), will endorse the Full submission.

Expressions of Interest are to adhere to the following criteria:

• There is to be a single Expression of Interest for each proposed new health technology, regardless of the number of health services wishing to introduce the same health technology.  The deadline for the Expression of Interest is Wednesday 26 August 2009.
  
• One health service will need to take the lead in completing the Expression of Interest on behalf of all other health services wishing to introduce the same health technology.  Each Expression of Interest can request funding for up to a maximum of two years.
• Where the new health technology is expected to have broad application across the system, brief details of the consultation undertaken with other health services is required. 
• The Expression of Interest must also clearly indicate if funding is sought to procure capital medical equipment.
• Note that cancer-related Expressions of Interest must be signed off by all members of the relevant Integrated Cancer Service(s).
• VPACT will consider and short-list Expressions of Interest at its September 2009 meeting.  Health services will be notified of the VPACT recommendation in September 2009.  A short-listed Expression of Interest will be developed into a Full Submission by health services. 
• The department will provide necessary support to health services regarding consultation with each other to inform the development of an Expression of Interest.

Full submission

• If short-listed, an Expression of Interest is to be developed into a Full submission.   The deadline for the Full Submission is Friday 11 December 2009. 
• One health service will need to take the lead in completing the Full Submission on behalf of all other health services wishing to introduce the same health technology.  Each Full Submission can request funding for up to a maximum of two years.
• Where the new health technology is expected to have broad application across the system, details of the consultation undertaken with other health services are required. 
• For those seeking funding to procure capital medical equipment >$100,000, a capital medical equipment business case template and full life cycle costing must be completed as part of the Full submission.  Potential applicant should note:
• The medical equipment business case template is within the body of the Full Submission proforma.
• The full life cycle costing template comprises Excel spreadsheets – please contact the department to receive this Excel file via email.
• A health service’s New Technology Committee, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer must endorse the capital medical equipment business case.

• It is a new health technology to be introduced into, or systematised in, the Victorian public health sector in the 2010-11 financial year.
• The new health technology must be aligned with departmental and health service priorities.
• The new health technology must have a statewide application such as:
• Highly specialised service at a single hospital
• Specialised service provided at major tertiary hospitals
• Specialised service provided in metropolitan and regional health services
• Less specialised service provided in metropolitan and rural/regional health service.
• The new health technology must be registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia (if applicable). 
• The new health technology must be of proven efficacy and have demonstrated improvement in clinical outcome and/or reduction in long-term health costs.
• Demonstrated evidence of operator credentialing and competency where a new procedure or use of a new prosthesis or medical device is involved.
• The total cost of implementing the new health technology across the state must be a minimum of $250,000 p.a.

There will be limited ability to assess Full Submission with incomplete information.  The ability to request further information will be limited.

VPACT will consider Full submissions at its February 2010 meeting.  Health services will be notified of the VPACT recommendation and departmental endorsement by the end of February 2010. 

Departmental officers will arrange to meet with successful Full Submission applicants to commence discussion around funding, capital medical equipment procurement (if relevant), implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

The revised submission process and timelines will support the full implementation of the successful new health technology on 1 July 2010. 

Exclusions: 2010-11

Funding will not be available for:

• Equipment, unless it is specialised equipment required for the implementation of the new health technology and is not used for other clinical services
• Research
• Information technology, unless it is integral to the implementation of the new health technology
• Pharmaceuticals being funded as part of clinical trials
• Pharmaceuticals covered by Sections 85 and 100, the Highly Specialised Drugs Program and the Commonwealth’s Chemotherapy Pharmaceutical Access Program
• Pharmaceuticals to treat conditions other than those approved by the TGA
• Pharmaceuticals that are generally not used in community practice (i.e. not candidates for inclusion on the PBS)
• Prostheses or medical devices not approved for marketing in Australia by the TGA.

Information on 2010-11 New Technology Program submissions

What must be forwarded to DHS:

• Expression of Interest
• Deadline Wednesday 26 August 2009
• Email submission of electronic copy (Word format plus PDF of the signature pages)
• Full submission
• Deadline Friday 11 December 2009
• Hardcopy submission of three (3) double-sided unbound copies
• Email submission of electronic copy (Word format plus PDF of the signature pages)

• Capital medical equipment business case and full life cycle costing - three (3) double-sided unbound copies and electronic copies (Word for business case, Excel for full life cycle costing, PDF signature pages).

VPACT will meet:

• September 2009 to consider short-listing Expressions of Interest and recommending those to be developed into Full submissions.  Applicants will be notified of VPACT recommendation within 7 days.
• February 2010 to consider Full Submissions and make recommendations to the department on whether to fund the new health technology and, if so, any associated conditions.  Applicants will be notified of VPACT outcomes by late February 2010.

Enquiries

Enquiries about the New Technology Programs can be directed to Siegi Schmidmaier on phone 9096 1296 or email siegi.schmidmaier@dhs.vic.gov.au.