Patients at the centre of Bupa and Mater’s new partnership
Mater and Bupa today announced a renewed hospital partnership giving certainty of access and choice of care for Queenslanders.
The new three-year agreement was negotiated against a background of rising costs facing private hospitals. The agreement aims to keep private health insurance affordable, support the viability of the private hospital sector and take pressure off the overburdened public system.
Mater is Queensland’s largest not-for-profit health services provider and its new agreement with Bupa covers its network of 11 private hospitals, eight of which serve regional communities.
As well as targeted regional assistance ensuring continued access to high-quality services for regional customers, Bupa and Mater’s regional customers and patients are set to benefit from new models of care as part of the new deal.
Bupa and Mater have agreed to work towards implementing an innovative virtual cardiac rehabilitation program for Bupa patients at Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
Research shows that, without appropriate cardiac rehabilitation, one in two heart attack survivors do not return to their normal work capacity and one in four do not return to work at all.
The new agreement will also support the launch of a short stay joint program at Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
Mater Health Executive Director Chris Went welcomed the signing of the new agreement with Bupa.
“We are pleased to have successfully reached a new agreement with Bupa,” Ms Went said.
We are pleased to have successfully reached a new agreement with Bupa.
“The agreement ensures Bupa customers will continue to benefit from Mater’s exceptional hospital care and will also allow us to develop innovative new services for regional patients.”
Mater was founded in 1906 to meet the unmet health needs of Queensland communities as a not-for-profit organisation. All surplus revenues generated by Mater’s private hospitals are invested in new services, medical research and equipment to improve patient health.
Bupa Health Insurance Acting Managing Director Kate Williams said the partnership with Mater Health was a great example of private hospitals and private health insurers working together with a patient-first mindset.
“With cost-of-living pressures continuing to impact Australians, this partnership provides our customers with peace of mind knowing they’ll be covered at Mater hospitals,” Ms Williams said.
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to impact Australians, this partnership provides our customers with peace of mind knowing they’ll be covered at Mater hospitals.
“We know our customers want certainty, affordable care and better health outcomes, and it’s great to work with Mater on models of care that will help enhance patient outcomes while ensuring they receive the right care, at the right time and in the right place.”
Bupa’s renewed partnership with Mater is the latest agreement by Bupa and its hospital partners, including St Vincent’s and a recently announced partnership between Bupa and Ramsay Health Care to develop the next generation of nurses through an innovative new graduate program.
