Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

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Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) Terms of Reference

Revised MSAC ToR endorsed Minister 13 December 2010

Purpose:

The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) is an independent scientific committee comprising individuals with expertise in clinical medicine, health economics and consumer matters. It advises the Minister for Health and Ageing on whether a new medical service should be publicly funded based on an assessment of its comparative safety, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and total cost, using the best available evidence. In providing this advice, MSAC may also take other relevant factors into account. This process ensures that Australians have access to medical services that have been shown to be safe and clinically effective, as well as representing value for money for the Australian health care system.

Roles and function:

MSAC is to:

• Advise the Minister for Health and Ageing on medical services including those that involve new or emerging technologies and procedures and, where relevant, amendment to existing MBS items, in relation to:
  
  • the strength of evidence in relation to the comparative safety, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and total cost of the medical service;
    
  • whether public funding should be supported for the medical service and, if so, the circumstances under which public funding should be supported;
    
  • the proposed Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item descriptor and fee for the service where funding through the MBS is supported;
    
  • the circumstances, where there is uncertainty in relation to the clinical or cost-effectiveness of a service, under which interim public funding of a service should be supported for a specified period, during which defined data collections under agreed clinical protocols would be collected to inform a re-assessment of the service by MSAC at the conclusion of that period;
    
  • other matters related to the public funding of health services referred by the Minister.
  
  
• Advise the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) on health technology assessments referred under AHMAC arrangements.

Composition:

MSAC’s size and composition is to be determined by the Minister for Health and Ageing. MSAC’s composition is drawn from a wide range of experts constituted from time to time to address the likely type of applications for the committee’s consideration.

Membership appointments are generally for four year terms, with members able to nominate for consecutive terms. Appointments may be staggered to allow for continuity of the committee.

Members may serve on the head committee (MSAC), and/or any of its sub-committees or ad-hoc working groups. MSAC may also co-opt non-members to its sub-committees or working groups.

Members sign Deed of Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Declarations upon appointment, and are required to declare potential, perceived or actual conflicts for each meeting/issue being addressed. The Chair will agree if and how an actual or potential conflict of interest needs to be managed.

Quorum:

To enable a MSAC meeting to proceed, half the number of members plus one is required. Similarly, a MSAC decision, either in or out of session, requires a majority vote in favour of the resolution (MSAC’s advice to the Minister). Members may abstain from voting. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair has the casting vote.

Meeting schedule:

MSAC usually meets up to four times per year. Sub-committees and working groups may meet more frequently. Business may also be conducted out of session, usually via email or teleconference/videoconference, with face-to-face meetings held where/when required.

Deliverables:

The rationale for MSAC’s advice to the Minister (or AHMAC where the matter has been referred through AHMAC arrangements) is provided in the form of a Public Summary Document.

Members are required to endorse the advice, Public Summary Documents and Minutes of Meetings within the stipulated timeframes.

Public Summary Documents are included in the public dissemination of the outcomes (both in hard copy and on the MSAC website), after the Minister (or AHMAC where appropriate) has noted MSAC’s advice and agreed to its public release.

Members are also required to participate in sub-committees and/or other ad-hoc working groups as determined by the MSAC Executive from time to time.

Reporting:

MSAC submits Performance Reports to the Minister annually.

• PDF Printable Version - MSAC Terms of Reference - 13 Dec 2010 (PDF 20 KB)