Agency Resources and
Planned Performance
Department of Health and Ageing...... 41
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd...... 251
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care...... 269
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare...... 285
Australian National Preventive Health Agency...... 305
Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority....327
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency...... 349
Cancer Australia...... 367
Food Standards Australia New Zealand...... 387
General Practice Education and Training Ltd...... 407
Health Workforce Australia...... 423
Independent Hospital Pricing Authority...... 439
National Blood Authority...... 459
National Health Funding Body...... 483
National Health and Medical Research Council...... 501
National Health Performance Authority...... 523
Private Health Insurance Administration Council...... 543
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman...... 561
Professional Services Review...... 581
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1
Department of
Health and Ageing
Agency Resources and
Planned Performance
1
1
Section 1 – Department Overview and Resources
Department of Health and Ageing
Section 1: Department Overview and Resources
1.1:Strategic Direction Statement ...... 17
1.2:Department Resource Statement...... 24
1.3: Budget Measures ...... 28
Section 2: Outcomes and Planned Performance
2.1: Outcomes and Performance Information ...... 41
Outcome 1 — Population Health...... 43
Outcome 2 — Access to Pharmaceutical Services ...... 73
Outcome 3 — Access to Medical Services...... 89
Outcome 4 — Aged Care and Population Ageing ...... 105
Outcome 5 — Primary Care ...... 131
Outcome 6 — Rural Health ...... 141
Outcome 7 — Hearing Services ...... 147
Outcome 8 — Indigenous Health ...... 153
Outcome 9 — Private Health...... 161
Outcome 10 — Health System Capacity and Quality...... 167
Outcome 11 — Mental Health...... 187
Outcome 12 — Health Workforce Capacity...... 195
Outcome 13 — Acute Care...... 203
Outcome 14 — Biosecurity and Emergency Response...... 217
Section 3: Explanatory Tables and Budgeted Financial Statements
3.1: Explanatory Tables...... 224
3.2: Budgeted Financial Statements ...... 229
Department of Health and Ageing
Section 1: Agency Overview and Resources
1.1Strategic Direction Statement
The Australian Government has undertaken a progressive reform of Australia’s health and ageing system to ensure Australians continue to enjoy a world class and sustainable health system into the future. Through the Government’s investment of an additional $25.7 billion in national health reform, the Australian community is now starting to see the significant benefits of this record investment.
The National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA), signed in August 2011, introduced a series of wide ranging structural reforms to improve access to health services and to ensure sustainability of the health and hospital system. 2013-14 is the second of two transitional years of implementation of the NHRA. A nationally unified, locally responsive governance system is in place through Local Hospital Networks and Medicare Locals, and independent institutions, such as the National Health Performance Authority and Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, are increasing transparency and driving improvements in the health system.
A key focus of the $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package in 2013-14 will be on delivering immediate benefits to older Australians and the broader community, while laying the foundations for longer term reform. Significant changes to financing arrangements are scheduled to take effect from 1July 2014[1] and preparations for their introduction will be a major priority.
In 2013-14, the Australian Government will continue to implement the Delivering National Mental Health Reform package, which provides a $2.2 billion investment in both health and community services over five years from 2011-12, and also commence implementation of the $4.1 billion Dental Reform Package. Over 220 projects have now been funded under the $5 billion Nation-building Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF). During 2013-14 work will continue on these capital works and infrastructure projects to provide hospital extensions and redevelopments, regional cancer centres and research infrastructure.
To complement reforms to the acute, primary and aged care systems, in 2013-14 the Australian Government will continue to put prevention at the forefront of the nation’s health system, to help keep people well, and out of hospital.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring Australians have access to world class cancer care. The Government recognises the enormous impact that cancer continues to have on many Australian families. As part of the HHF, $1.4billion is being invested in 39 projects to build world class cancer facilities. This includes a contribution to the funding for a total of 25 regional cancer centres which bring much needed care closer to where patients live. In 2013-14, the Government will increase funding to the McGrath Foundation to expand the number of Commonwealth funded Breast Care Nurses from 44 to 57 over the next four years, and expand BreastScreen Australia’s target age range to improve early detection of cancer among women aged 70 to 74.
This Budget also continues to ensure a focus on investment in frontline services and includes responsible savings. The Australian Government has implemented significant reforms which are reducing the price of medicines for consumers. The Government will continue to ensure the sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and deliver capacity to provide access to new and innovativemedicines for the Australian people, building on the $5 billion in new listings since 2007, made possible by the $4 billion in savings that are being delivered as a result of price disclosures and the2010 Further PBS Reforms.
The Australian Government will further increase its ongoing capacity to monitor, check and pre-empt growth in the expenditure of the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) to ensure Australians can continue to receive safe, effective and medical care at a sustainable cost.The Government will continue to expand the role of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) and support an evidence based process to ensure safety, quality and cost-effectiveness of new and existing services on the MBS.
World leading cancer care
Australia’s cancer patients now have the best overall survival rates in the world – and the Australian Government is making new investments to continue to improve the lives of all Australians touched by cancer. From 2013-14 the Government will continue funding for two Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centres andprovide funding for a third Centre over four years. This funding will enable the three Centres to continue working collaboratively to coordinate research more effectively and develop improved diagnostic tests (including techniques to differentiate between aggressive and non-aggressive cancers), screening tools and treatments for prostate cancer.
Australian women over 40 years of age are eligible to receive free breast screening. The 2013-14 Budget commits $55.7 million over four years to expand BreastScreen Australia’s active recruitment of women in the target range of 50-69 years of age to women 50-74 years of age.Beginning in 2013-14, all Australian women 70-74 years of age will be actively invited to undertake free breast screening every two years – a first for the program. This will improve the early detection of breast cancer, resulting in more than 145,000 additional women screened every two years from 2016-17, with up to an additional 1,170 breast cancers detected every two years.
The target age range for the National Bowel Cancer Screening program has also been extended, and from 1 July 2013, people turning 60 will be invited to undertake free bowel cancer screening through the program. This will build on the current program, which invites those turning 50, 55 and 65 years of age to participate in screening. From 1 July 2015, people turning 70 will also be included in the program. Around 5 million Australians will be offered free screening over the next four years. The 2013-14 Budget commits $16.1 million over four years to ensure that the program is available to all eligible Australians.
Reforming the hospital system
The National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) and the National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services, signed by all governments in August 2011, will provide Australians with improved public hospital services, including more beds, quicker emergency department services, and better access to elective surgery and subacute care.
The Government has been progressively implementing the actions agreed to under the NHRA, and this has transformed funding and governance arrangements for public hospital services. Building on the introduction of nationally consistent activity based funding for public hospital services in 2012-13, activity based funding of mental health and subacute care services will commence on 1 July 2013. Activity based funding for an increased range of services will continue to ensure that Local Hospital Networks are funded on the basis of the services they provide.From 2014-15, funding to state and territory hospital services will be uncapped and based on activity, so the more people they care for, the more funding hospitals will receive.
To increase transparency, and drive improvements in service provision, in 2013-14 the National Health Performance Authority will continue to develop and publish Hospital Performance Reports and Healthy Communities Reports to assess the performance of public health and hospital services. The reports will highlight high performing organisations, and identify areas in need of further development and future investment.
Reforming the aged care system
The 2012-13 Budget provided funding of $3.7billion over five years for the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package. From 1 July 2013, the My Aged Care website and call centre - key components of the new Aged Care Gateway - will be established. This will provide older people, their families and carers with access to the information they need,and enable them to more easily navigate the aged care system.
For the first time, all new Home Care Packages allocated from 1 July 2013 will be offered on a Consumer Directed Care basis, providingolder people with more choice and control over the services they receive. From 1 July 2013, two new levels of Home Care Packages will be introduced resulting in a total of four package levels (Home Care Levels 1 to 4).[2] Also from 1 July 2013, the new Dementia and Veterans’ Supplements will be payable for eligible people in Home Care, residential care and other programs.2
In 2013-14, the Australian Government will continue implementing a workforce productivity strategy to help ensure that an appropriately skilled and well-qualified workforce is available for older people who need aged care. Eligible aged care providers will be able to access up to $1.2 billion in fundingfrom 1 July 2013that will provide higher wages for aged care workers.2
Mental health
During 2013-14, several key elements of theDelivering National Mental Health Reform package will commence service delivery following extensive planning and consultation with stakeholders. Partners in Recovery organisations will commence operations to provide better coordination and integration of the range of services required by people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs. The delivery of services to young people with early psychosis will also commence under the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre model.
In 2013-14, the Government will also continue to implement the Mental Health: Taking Action to Tackle Suicide package to prevent the tragedy of suicide and reduce its toll on individuals, families and communities. This will include funding governments to improve safety and infrastructure at suicide hotspots.
The Australian Government will continue to collaborate with state and territory governments on national mental health reform in 2013-14. This will include addressing actions arising from the 7 December 2012 COAG meeting related to the development of indicators and targets for mental health and the development of a successor to the Fourth National Mental Health Plan.
Improving primary health care
Funding to 112 Divisions of General Practice and eight State Based Organisations ceased with the introduction of 61 Medicare Locals as part of the Australian Government's Health Reforms. This has significantly reduced administrative overhead and allowed funding to be directed to service provision.
In 2013-14 the Government is providing Medicare Locals with fundingto plan, coordinate and deliver health services in local communities. Medicare Locals are undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment to guide decisions and priorities, contributing to local communities getting the right services, in the right place and at the right time.
The Australian Government will continue to improve access to after hours primary health care across Australia through Medicare Locals and the afterhours GP helpline. Medicare Locals have developed plans for comprehensive face-to-face after hours primary health care services that best meet community need, to improve access for all Australians, regardless of where they live.
GP Super Clinics are another key element of the Government’s health reform strategy to improve access to primary health care services. The Government will continue to develop over 60 GP Super Clinics to ensure Australians have access to patient centred, team based, integrated primary health care to effectively target chronic disease and the health promotion needs of the communities in which they operate.
The Government will work with state and territory governments to implement agreed bilateral plans which set out the future direction of primary health care in each state and territory. The bilateral plans will support the implementation of appropriate and effective primary health care services to meet the current and future health care needs of Australians.
Prevention
Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of ill health and death in Australia. In 2013-14, the Government will continue to implement the tobacco plain packaging legislation as a key element of its goal of reducing the adult daily smoking rates in Australia to 10% by 2018 and halving the smoking rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the same period. The Government will continue to enforce the plain packaging legislation and ensure all tobacco products manufactured or sold in Australia comply with these regulations.
The Australian Government will continue its focus to improve and strengthen the quality and safety of Australia’s childhood immunisation arrangements. Building on the range of reforms introduced to date, the definition of ‘fully immunised’ will be expanded from 1 July 2013 to include a further three antigens (meningococcal C, pneumococcal and varicella) which are required for a child to be considered fully immunised for families to receive Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement. The expansion of the definition will reinforce the importance of these vaccines with the aim of increasing coverage rates over time. Varicella coverage (currently lower than other vaccines) is expected to improve with the addition of a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella for 18 month olds.
Dental
The Government, in response to the high cost and long waiting lists that prevent many Australians from accessing dental services, has committed $4.1 billion to a comprehensive Dental Reform package.
This is in addition to the $515.3 million investment in dental health made in the 2012-13 Budget, which will see 400,000 adults benefit from a blitz on public dental waiting lists. Under the National Partnership Agreement, states and territories acknowledge the need to continue to provide services at existing levels, in addition to the services funded by the Australian Government.
From 1 January 2014, around 3.4 million children aged 2-17, in families who meet a means test, will be able to access up to $1,000 worth of basic essential dental treatment capped over a two year period under the Grow Up Smiling program. A National Partnership Agreement to expand services for adults in the public dental system will commence on 1 July 2014.
A Flexible Grants Program will commence in 2014 to provide funding for dental infrastructure in outer metropolitan, rural and regional areas. Together with projects under the HHF regional round to improve facilities and services, and relocation grants for dentists who move to regional, rural and remote areas, this will assist in reducing access barriers for people living in these areas.
eHealth
The implementation of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system will play a significant role in improving patient care and clinical decision making. The PCEHR will be an integral part of the Government’s universal health care system.
The PCEHR system enables key health information to be available for individuals when and where it is needed, while ensuring that records are private and secure. In 2013-14, the Government will continue to promote awareness of the benefits of eHealth and to encourage take up of the PCEHR and other eHealth tools by consumers and providers. Over time, an individual’s PCEHR will become a lifetime health record, and will help to ensure a patient centred health system.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
In 2013-14, the Australian Government will continue with the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. The Health Plan will support all Governments’ efforts to close the gap in life expectancy and halve the gap in child mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader population through galvanising efforts to focus on those initiatives which will have the greatest impact on health outcomes.
The Australian Government will continue working with states and territories and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to progress measures and fund services to improve health outcomes.
A key element of the cooperation between the Government and states and territories is the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes.
In 2013-14, the Government will work with states and territories through a renewed National Partnership Agreement to consolidate and embed the reforms implemented under the current National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes.
Under this National Partnership Agreement, the Australian Government will provide ongoing support for a comprehensive package of initiatives to improve the prevention, detection and management of chronic diseases through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Chronic Disease Fund.