In 2013, the NHC published Strategic Overview: Respiratory Disease in New Zealand which highlighted COPD as an area of high materiality in terms of health gain and expenditure. Following this publication, the NHC explored the drivers of COPD health loss and identified areas along the COPD pathway of care where there existed the potential for health improvements and reduced expenditure.
This analysis formed the basis for discussion amongst a multi-disciplinary respiratory working group (RWG). The RWG comprises sector-nominated representatives from across the field of respiratory care and met in Auckland in early 2014 to discuss where it felt areas of need existed on the COPD spectrum of care.
Following that meeting, the NHC is now publishing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Pathway to Prioritisation which recommends five areas for assessment within COPD:
- expanding pulmonary rehabilitation services
- reducing long-term oxygen therapy variation
- improving diagnosis and case-finding
- improving non-invasive ventilation services and
- expanding the practice of advance care planning.
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to explore the pathway of care for COPD patients and identify interventions that the National Health Committee (NHC) should conduct health technology assessments (HTAs) on in order to improve health outcomes and efficiency.