What you need to know
All new applications go through this step. Re-applications may also need a suitability check – contact our secretariat to confirm if:
- it has been over 12 months since we considered your previous application
- there has been a significant change to your application, such as the funding source.
A suitability check:
- ensures your application is complete and suitable for the MSAC process
- confirms the funding program you nominated is appropriate
- helps decide the best assessment pathway for your application
- helps our secretariat propose the earliest possible meeting dates for consideration of your application.
What is checked
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Our secretariat checks you have:
- completed all the relevant questions in the application form
- uploaded your PICO set
- attached all the required documents.
If your application is not complete, you will need to provide any missing information.
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The relevant policy team checks the funding or subsidy program you nominated is appropriate for your application. If not, and there is no other appropriate program or way to source funding, your application will be unsuitable for the MSAC process. It would be impossible to implement without having a funding program available.
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Our secretariat checks the summary of the evidence that supports your application.
If there is little to no evidence to support your clinical claims, your application will likely be unsuitable for the MSAC process. You can provide any missing information or apply later when you have more evidence.
The availability of evidence also helps our secretariat to propose the next feasible meeting dates to consider your application.
For example, if highly relevant research will not be available for a few months, our secretariat may propose a later meeting date.
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Our secretariat checks the novelty and complexity of the service or technology in your application. This helps our secretariat to decide the assessment pathway (if your application is suitable).
Novelty relates to how new or original your service or technology is. Complexity relates to how many population groups or clinical scenarios your service or technology targets.
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Our secretariat checks whether an HTA is:
- possible – can we measure and comparatively assess the clinical outcomes and costs?
- necessary – can the government decide funding for an application without an HTA?
Generally, we only consider applications we can assess with an HTA.
Some applications may not need an HTA if they involve minor administrative changes or low financial cost. This means they are likely not suitable for the MSAC process. Our secretariat may instead refer these applications to other processes.
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Our secretariat checks you have provided regulatory information in the application form. This must include the expected timing of regulatory approval (if needed).
Our secretariat will ask you to provide any missing information.
Find out more about the regulatory information section of the form on the Health Products Portal.
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In line with clause C12 of the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA), if your application is for a potential HST, our secretariat will:
- share your unredacted application form with the NHRA Joint Chairs' Group and state and territory representatives
- organise a meeting of the group to confirm your application meets the HST definition.
This meeting must occur within 30 days after receiving your application.
If it does not meet the HST definition, other funding sources will be considered as part of the suitability check.
You will find out what the group decided when you receive the suitability check outcome.
What you need to do
If your application is not complete, our secretariat will contact you to request the missing information. Respond by the due date. If you do not, we will not consider your application in the current round.
Outcome and next steps
If your application is:
- suitable – our secretariat will decide the most efficient assessment pathway for your application in the next step
- not suitable – our secretariat will notify you of the outcome and your options in the next step. Your application may be referred to another channel or committee.
If you are unsure your application will be suitable, you can request a pre-application meeting with our secretariat before you apply.
Contact
