Healthscope hospitals agreement

Updated 26 November 2024

Private hospital operator Healthscope has stated it will terminate its contract with Nurses & Midwives Health, effective 4 March 2025.

The announcement came after the hospital group abandoned plans to charge members of funds represented by the Australian Health Services Alliance (AHSA) – including Nurses & Midwives Health – an out-of-pocket ‘facility fee’ for admissions. We opposed this fee, believing it to be unfair, unsustainable, and in breach of our then current agreement.

We’re disappointed to hear of this latest development, as it appears Healthscope wants to put profits above affordable private healthcare – at a time many Australians are facing cost of living pressure.

On this page:

• About Healthscope
• Healthscope hospital admissions
• What Nurses & Midwives Health is doing
• Switching funds

How many hospitals are in the Healthscope Group?

There are 38 Healthscope hospitals across Australia.

Is Healthscope an Australian company?

Healthscope is owned by Canadian private equity firm Brookfield, which has more than USD 1 trillion in assets.

Are other funds affected?

Agreement terminations will affect the members of the 22 health funds represented by the AHSA – all small to medium-sized not-for-profit funds. Healthscope has also said it will terminate its Bupa contract.

This would represent almost half the health insurance market in Australia – more than 6 million people.

I have a Healthscope hospital booking – can I still claim for it?

Yes. Existing bookings aren’t affected. Healthscope hospitals are still agreement hospitals until 4 March 2025.

I’m currently undergoing treatment at a Healthscope hospital. Can I continue?

Yes. You can continue your course of treatment. Healthscope hospitals are still agreement hospitals until 4 March 2025.

You can still receive treatment at Healthscope hospitals after 4 March 2025 but, as with any non-agreement hospital admission, you may have significant out-of-pocket costs. To avoid these, check with your doctor if they will treat you at one of our agreement hospitals.

I’m booked in to a Healthscope hospital to have my baby. Will I have to switch?

No. If you’re already booked in, you’ll be covered regardless of when you have the baby.

What about future bookings? 

You can still receive treatment at Healthscope hospitals after 4 March 2025 but, as with any non-agreement hospital admission, you may have significant out-of-pocket costs.

You can ask your specialist if they will treat you at another hospital. We currently have agreements with over 500 hospitals across Australia.

What is Nurses & Midwives Health’s view on the Healthscope situation?

As mentioned, it’s hugely disappointing to learn that a hospital group owned by an overseas private equity firm (with more than USD 1 trillion in assets) is putting the squeeze on members of not-for-profit funds, like Nurses & Midwives Health.

Especially when many of us are doing our best to navigate ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

Please know that we, along with the AHSA, are working tirelessly to achieve a resolution that provides value for you, our members. Big business scare tactics will not change this approach.

We’ve successfully resolved many hospital contract issues before agreements have expired, and fully intend to achieve this again.

Who’s negotiating with Healthscope?

As one of 22 funds that are part of the AHSA, they are representing us in these negotiations.

Will Nurses & Midwives Health go out of contract with any other hospitals?

It is unusual for us to go out of contract with a hospital; however, this situation can occur from time to time. We currently have agreements with over 500 hospitals across Australia and we expect that these will continue.

How will I know if anything changes? 

We’ll regularly update this page and will contact you directly if you’re likely to be impacted.

Why shouldn’t I switch to a fund which isn’t part of the Healthscope contract termination?

We get it. And we’re genuinely sorry if this issue causes you concern and distress. It’s not a situation that we want for our members.

We encourage you not to seek out another health fund at this stage. We’re still working with Healthscope with the aim of reaching an agreement that will work for our members.