The Evaluation of the Treatment Injury Legislation
The Evaluation of the Treatment Injury Legislation
Client: Accident Compensation Corporation
New legislation was introduced in New Zealand with the intent of removing the culture of ‘blame and shame’ associated with medical misadventure. The NZ Cabinet agreed to remove ACC cover for medical misadventure and replace it with cover for personal injury caused by treatment. The treatment injury reforms seek to build partnership with the health sector by supporting and acting as a catalyst for quality/learning initiatives in the health sector.
A four year evaluation commencing 2006 and due for completion in June 2010 has been commissioned by ACC with Health Outcomes International undertaking the work. There are six objectives to the evaluation.
Describe the implementation of the treatment injury legislation and policy and ascertain if the implementation proceeded as intended.
Assess the extent to which the intent of the treatment injury legislation is being achieved.
Identify the unintended consequences of the treatment injury legislation upon DHB's, RHPs, ACC and the broader health sector
Identify what changes are required to further facilitate the ACC’s intent being achieved.
Identify, to the extent possible, the issues relating to equity of access to treatment injury cover.
Identify the costs and benefits of the legislative changes for all key stakeholders.
The evaluation included collection of baseline data and trend analyses being undertaken over a three year period, the conduct of an economic cost benefit analysis, review of medical records, consultations with a range of stakeholder groups, preparation of ethics submissions, documentation review, etc.