Assistive Technology Pricingin Australia: Is It Efficient and Equitable?

Summers, Michael and George, Verikios (2016): Assistive Technology Pricingin Australia: Is It Efficient and Equitable? Published in: Australian Health Review , Vol. 42, (2018): pp. 100-110.

Abstract

Recently, concerns have been raised that in comparison to prices for assistive technology (AT) (e.g., disability aids and equipment)in other countries, Australian AT retailers’ prices are excessive. We present three sets of price comparisons for AT that indicate Australian prices arelow comparedto other countries. Further, there is no evidence of suppliers earning supranormal profits in Australia. Together, all the evidence suggests that AT prices in Australia are efficient and equitable. Efforts to reduce prices through the excessive use of large-scale government procurement programs are likely to reduce diversity and innovation in AT and raise AT prices over time.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: assistive technology; efficiency; equity; government procurement
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I11 - Analysis of Health Care Markets; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I14 - Health and Inequality; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I18 - Government Policy ; Regulation ; Public Health

References

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