For highly specialised therapies, state and territory governments decide when and where to provide them. Find out more about implementation for highly specialised therapies.
For blood and blood-related products, our advice goes to the Jurisdictional Blood Committee to consider funding.
Progressing MSAC advice
Once we have reached an assessment outcome and advised the federal health minister, the MSAC process ends.
For most applications, the policy team responsible for the relevant funding program progresses our advice. This policy team may sit in the Department of Health and Aged Care or other government agencies. It:
- considers what is needed to implement our advice
- considers the financial impact to government
- consults with relevant stakeholders as needed, such as the applicant or clinical experts
- develops advice on implementation
- provides their implementation advice to the federal health minister.
Implementation
The next steps depend on the funding program the application relates to, and may include:
- a new policy proposal to get funding through the federal budget process
- implementation by the states and territories
- signing a deed of agreement on the funding arrangements.
Funding for Medicare Benefits Schedule items usually needs a new policy proposal.
MSAC has no role in implementing accepted advice.
Timeframes
The time it takes to implement our advice varies. For example, a new policy proposal and budget funding depends on government priorities and the budget cycle.