❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Health regarding the national efficient pricing regime's impact on WA's unique challenges in delivering health services, particularly in remote areas. The Minister acknowledges concerns but assures that current funding and services won't be altered and that ongoing dialogue and submissions are being made to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 549Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 1 at page 132 "Significant Issues Impacting the Agency", dot point 8 referring to a national efficient pricing regime, and noting that at the time of consideration of legislation implementing the National Health Reform Agreement the Minister expressed some concern that the national pricing regime was not adequately taking into consideration the unique challenges of providing health services in a State as big as Western Australia, and with as many remote and isolated communities as we have in Western Australia and noting the budget papers state that in 2013-14 the State Transitioning price is $167 higher than the Projected Average Cost, I ask: (a) has the national pricing regime been finalised; (b) is the Minister satisfied that the national pricing regime adequately addresses the unique challenges of delivering health services in Western Australia; (c) if no to (b), how will this impact service delivering in regional Western Australia; (d) what is the Minister doing to have the national pricing regime reviewed; and (e) is the Minister confident that the national regime will adequately meet the needs of delivering health services in regional Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 December 2013
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
40 days
(a) The national pricing framework for 2013-14 has been finalised by the national Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA).
(b) At this early stage in the implementation of the national activity based funding arrangements, there remain concerns that the proposed national pricing regime is still to take full account of the legitimate and unavoidable costs, particularly the cost of delivering services in rural and regional areas and the cost of delivering low volume, highly specialised services.
(c) The IHPA pricing framework for 201314 will not alter funding levels or service requirements in regional Western Australia.
(d) The Department of Health has an ongoing dialogue with the IHPA about the national pricing framework. The Department of Health, through the Minister for Health, continues to analyse the national pricing framework and provide formal submissions to the IHPA with
regard to the appropriate recognition of legitimate and unavoidable costs.
The Minister for Health has written to Dr Tony Sherbon, Chief Executive Officer of IHPA, to invite Dr Sherbon to visit regional Western Australia, to personally experience and discuss the cost issues associated with delivering health services throughout Western Australia.
(e) The new arrangements for funding public hospital services under the National Health Reform Agreement are expected to deliver additional funding estimated at $1.7 billion to Western Australia over the period 201415 to 201920. It is the State's responsibility in its role as system manager to ensure equitable allocation across all health services, including services to remote and rural parts of the State.
(b) At this early stage in the implementation of the national activity based funding arrangements, there remain concerns that the proposed national pricing regime is still to take full account of the legitimate and unavoidable costs, particularly the cost of delivering services in rural and regional areas and the cost of delivering low volume, highly specialised services.
(c) The IHPA pricing framework for 201314 will not alter funding levels or service requirements in regional Western Australia.
(d) The Department of Health has an ongoing dialogue with the IHPA about the national pricing framework. The Department of Health, through the Minister for Health, continues to analyse the national pricing framework and provide formal submissions to the IHPA with
regard to the appropriate recognition of legitimate and unavoidable costs.
The Minister for Health has written to Dr Tony Sherbon, Chief Executive Officer of IHPA, to invite Dr Sherbon to visit regional Western Australia, to personally experience and discuss the cost issues associated with delivering health services throughout Western Australia.
(e) The new arrangements for funding public hospital services under the National Health Reform Agreement are expected to deliver additional funding estimated at $1.7 billion to Western Australia over the period 201415 to 201920. It is the State's responsibility in its role as system manager to ensure equitable allocation across all health services, including services to remote and rural parts of the State.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.