Proposed Regulations for Compensable Patients Consultation Paper
22 June 2025
The ALA has made a submission to the Western Australia Department of Health regarding the proposed regulatory scheme designed to assist in the recovery of medical and health expenses incurred by compensable patients.
While generally supporting regulations to support the recovery of debts from compensable patients and ensure that the cost of their treatment is not borne by the public health system where liability has been accepted for their claims and a compensation payor or insurer is liable to pay for such debts/costs, the ALA does not support such regulations where liability has not been accepted for compensable patients' claims and a compensation payor disputes that it is liable to pay for such debts/costs.
Further, we have submitted that the compensable patient should not be required to incur the legal costs of pursing a debt on behalf of the Department of Health for public hospital treatment.
ALA submission