HCF Annual Report 2009

Review of Operations

HCF offers a range of products and services that provide the freedom for our members to choose and access high quality health care and financial services. We meet and exceed our members’ expectations through continued improvement in efficiency and service standards, meeting our pledge that HCF gives more for our members.

Health Care
HCF Dental Centres and the HCF Oral Health Program

The HCF network of seven dental centres in the Sydney Metropolitan area enables members to access lower cost, high quality dental services. With 122 highly qualified dentists and 93 surgeries we continue to provide the highest level of dental care to our members. HCF insistence on continuing professional development means all of our dentists meet our required high standard of clinical and personal development.

The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) extended the dental network’s accreditation to 2013 following last year’s periodic quality assurance review.

This year HCF dental centres treated almost 80,000 members and provided 30% of all preventative and diagnostic dental services to members living in NSW.

We treated 80,000 members at our dental centres,
6% more than last year

The combined Group market
share rose to 11.8%

Dental Network


	2008	2009	Change

HCF Dental Centres
Patients treated	75,600	80,000	6%

Members using the HCF dental centre network were charged considerably lower out of pocket expenses than those treated in private dental practice.

Dental average co-payments


	2008	2009

Average co-payment
Private practice	$33.18	$35.00
HCF dental centres	$7.27	$8.50

The HCF Oral Health Program (OHP) was introduced to provide ‘no-gap’ preventative and diagnostic dental services similar to those provided by our dental centres to members living in the regional and rural areas of NSW, ACT or who are resident in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. This year the number of participating dentists increased by 27% to 2,397. They treated 177,500 HCF members, 13.5% more than in 2007/08 and provided almost 40% of all dental services to HCF members.

Oral Health Program


	2008	2009	Change

NSW/ACT
Number of dentists	553	660	19.0%
Patients treated	85,317	87,800	2.3%


Queensland
Number of dentists	884	1,046	18.0%
Patients treated	49,100	56,200	14.0%


Victoria
Number of dentists	460	536	17.0%
Patients treated	22,000	26,000	18.0%


South Australia*
Number of dentists	–	155	–
Patients treated	–	7,500	–

* Oral health program introduced 1 July 2008

From April 2009 Manchester Unity members were able to use the HCF dental network and the Oral Health Program. This enables MU members to access lower cost dental services around Australia.

HCF Eyecare Centres
Our seven Eyecare Centres are operated under a franchise agreement with Eyecare Holdings Pty Ltd and are co-located with HCF dental clinics. HCF and MU members can access a full range of affordable high quality optical frames, lenses and contact lenses. High quality optical care is provided by qualified optometrists and optical dispensers using modern equipment. This year, 24,345 members used the HCF Eyecare Centres, 1.5% higher from the 23,989 last year.

All HCF Eyecare centres have Quality in Practice accreditation to standards set by the Optometrists Association Australia.

Optical average co-payments*
	2008	2009

Average co-payment
Private practice	$106.74	$105.75
Eyecare centres	$98.05	$99.05

* Based on benefit items for frames, lenses and contact lenses.