Health Insurance Fund of Australia (HIF) has thrown its considerable weight behind the Australian medicinal cannabis industry by expanding its partnership with leading Australian medicinal cannabis supplier Little Green Pharma Ltd to include supporting theQUality of lifeEvaluationSTudy (The QUEST Initiative).
The QUEST Initiative is a wide-ranging, longitudinal study for medicinal cannabis patients that aims to be one of the world’s largest studies examining quality of life and health economics outcomes in patients prescribed medicinal cannabis. The study aims to recruit at least 2,100 patients by June 2021 with potential to extend this study internationally.
The study will assess changes in patient conditions and symptoms using self-reported quality- of-life outcomes, and will collect information on patient mobility, functionality, pain or discomfort, anxiety and depression, medication requirements and ongoing health costs.
There is no set list of chronic health conditions that can be considered eligible for this study. Any chronic condition existing for more than three months that may be treated with medicinal cannabis will be eligible.
Commonly prescribed chronic conditions that have been treated with medicinal cannabis in Australia include chronic pain, cancer-related pain and/or nausea, neuropathic pain, sleep disorders, anxiety, PTSD, depression, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, MS, epilepsy, MND, autism, IBS/ IBD/ Crohn’s, and Parkinson’s.
The Study is independently run by a leading Australian university, guided by an Advisory Group and endorsed by a range of national bodies, such as MS Research Australia, Chronic Pain Australia, Arthritis Australia, Epilepsy Action Australia and HIF.
Eligible Australians will be able to participate in the study at a cost price of $150 (plus $15 delivery) per 50ml unit, with both high-CBD and high-THC medications available as part of the study. Under the study, patients will also be able to receive the medication directly to their homes.
HIF CEO, Justin James, said supporting this study was important to further understand the health benefits of medicinal cannabis.
We are very pleased to be standing in support of the first study of this kind, conducted in Australia,” Mr Justin said.
“At HIF, providing more choice to our members, whether its in treatment, specialist or hospital is fundamental for our business, so being able to provide this choice to our members is important.
“Little Green Pharma is doing some amazing things in this industry and supporting them in this next venture, which will increase understanding of the efficacy of medicinal cannabis on improving quality of life, made perfect sense.
“We want be part of finding solutions for members when it comes to their health, and we believe supporting this study – alongside a range of national health bodies in our industry – represents a step in the right direction for our industry,” Mr James said.
HIF now pays rebates on medicinal cannabis products on all but one of its Extra’s policies. Members who are eligible for the study are also eligible for the HIF cannabis medication rebate for medicines supplied under the Quest Initiative.
