Criteria for the clinical use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Australia - Second Edition

Contents

Appendix A: Funding policy statement

Policy principles

Under the National Blood Agreement, blood products are provided at no direct cost to patients. The blood sector is funded by the Australian Government (63%) and collectively by the states and territories (37%), with the funding provided by each state and territory based on the quantity of product provided to each particular state and territory.

The National Blood Agreement’s primary policy objectives are:

  1. to provide an adequate, safe, secure and affordable supply of blood products, blood-related products and blood-related services in Australia; and
  2. to promote safe, high-quality management and use of blood products, blood-related products and blood-related services in Australia.

A supporting policy aim is that blood and blood-related products are provided to patients free of charge and based on clinical need and appropriate clinical practice.

Funding for IVIg

Guided by these policy objectives and aims, governments have agreed to provide IVIg under the National Blood Arrangements for the conditions and uses described in the latest edition of the Criteria for the clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin in Australia in Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 (conditions for which there is reasonable evidence and/or clinical support for the use of IVIg therapy). IVIg funded under the National Blood Arrangements is not available to treat conditions identified in Chapter 8. For conditions not described in Chapter 5, Chapter 6 or Chapter 7, Approved Recipients may obtain IVIg via the Jurisdictional Direct Order component of the IVIg Standing Offer arrangements (see page 22).

Ongoing review of funded conditions

Under the National Blood Agreement, governments review expenditure twice a year and health ministers approve revised funding annually. The use of IVIg, as guided by latest edition of the Criteria for the clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin in Australia, will be regularly reviewed to ensure the qualifying, exclusion, review criteria and indicative dosages for each condition remain, in the light of emerging evidence, appropriate and in keeping with an evidence-based approach.