FOI 3902
Page 2 of 2
Document 1
OFFICIAL
QB22-000254
Date QTB created:
13 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 13 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
o an amendment to MRI item 63545 to expand indications from colorectal cancer to
include all cancer types;
o changes to obstetric and gynaecological diagnostic imaging services;
o a new MRI item (63549) for patients with a multiple pregnancy where fetal
abnormality is suspected;
o a new pelvic MRI item (63563) for the investigation of conditions affecting
fertility, including endometriosis; and
o a new positron emission tomography (PET) item for initial staging for patients
diagnosed with rare and uncommon cancers.
• Changes to Pathology Services include:
o an amendment to genetic testing item 73410;
o amendments to the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) items and other
administrative and consequential amendments; and
o a new genetic testing item for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders.
• The Regulations will also implement indexation for one clause and one item incorrectly
omitted from the
Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1)
Regulations 2022 (the July 2022 MBS Regulations) from 1 July 2022.
• The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), the MBS Taskforce and medical
professional organisations were consulted on 1 November 2022 changes. There was
general support from stakeholders on the changes being implemented on
1 November 2022.
Background – upcoming August 2022 regulations
• A number of changes to the General Medical Services Table (GMST), Pathology Services
Table (PST), Diagnostic Imaging Services Table (DIST) and
Health Insurance Regulations
2018 (HIR) wil be implemented through the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment
(2022 Measures No. 3) Regulations 2022 (the Regulations). These changes are
scheduled to be considered at the Executive Council meeting on 18 August 2022.
• These changes were announced in the 2022-23 Budget under the
Guaranteeing
Medicare – Medical Benefits Schedule new and amended listings, Women’s Health
Package and
Guaranteeing Medicare – Supporting patient access to Magnetic
Resonance Imaging measures.
Contact Officer:
Nigel Murray
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Assistant Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Cleared by:
Penny Shakespeare
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Deputy Secretary
Deputy Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices. Departmental officers must ensure that only factual
content is provided by the Department]
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FOI 3902
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Document 2
OFFICIAL
QB22-000260
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 4 August 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: 13 July 2022
• s47C
o Commercial negotiations between Bupa and Ramsay are underway.
o While Bupa and Ramsay’s hospital service contract terminated on 2 August 2022,
transitional arrangements apply with the result Bupa members remain fully
covered at Ramsay hospitals for a further 60 day, that is until 1 October 2022.
o I continue to encourage al parties to negotiate in good faith and in the interest
of patients and policyholders. I expect the parties will continue to communicate
with patients and policyholders in a clear and timely manner.
o The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman is empowered to act as a mediator in
these circumstances and I understand it has offered to arrange mediation in
August to assist Ramsay and Bupa to reach agreement.
o In the event that Bupa and Ramsay cannot reach a new agreement there are a
number of regulatory safeguards that protect the interests of consumers, these
include: (a) requirements that default benefits are paid by a consumer’s insurer
when there is no contract in place with a hospital; (b) informed financial consent
needs to be provided to patients in advance of care being delivered; and (c)
portability arrangements enable policyholders to change insurers if they are not
satisfied with the benefits their insurer offers and the premium it charges.
• s47C
o Since August 2021, insurers have been allowed to increase the maximum age of
dependants from 24 to 31 years and remove the age limit for dependants with a
disability.
o While it is not mandatory for health insurers to offer this cover, eight do and
more are expected to follow.
• s47C
o In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, private health insurers have and
continue to provide policy holders with premium relief, defer premium increases,
provide cashbacks and expand the benefits available to Australians with PHI.
o Insurers have also extended their products to cover COVID-19 related claims and
waived premiums for customers experiencing financial hardship, while
continuing to honour benefit claims.
o The Department, the Australian Prudential Regulatory Agency, the Private Health
Insurance Ombudsman and the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission are actively monitoring the sector to ensure health funds meet their
public commitments to not profit from the pandemic.
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices (blue/green text). Departmental officers must ensure
that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has been amended
nor cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.]
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FOI 3902
Page 3 of 4
Document 2
OFFICIAL
QB22-000260
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 4 August 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: 13 July 2022
o As was the case in the last premium approval process, all insurers will be
required to set out their actions to meet their commitment in the next premium
round.
• s47C
o As recommended by the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Out-of-Pocket Costs
(2018), participation by medical specialists in this initiative will be voluntary.
o Publishing individual specialists’ fees is not straightforward. Time is required to
ensure the information is accurate and presented in a helpful way that supports
patients without creating a large administrative workload for doctors.
o The pace of progress also reflects the prioritisation of the COVID-19 pandemic
response by the Government and the medical community.
o The Medical Costs Finder website already shows median out-of-pocket costs
based on aggregated, de-identified government data for the past financial year
and it is expected that individual specialist fees will be published later this year.
Background/ funding • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data on PHI membership, 31 March 2022:
o Hospital treatment: 45.1 per cent of the population or 11.6 million Australians.
o General treatment: 55.0 per cent of the population or 14.2 million Australians.
o Membership has increased in both number of persons covered and percentage
of population over the last seven quarters, since September 2020.
• Benefits paid for the 12 months to March 2022:
o Hospital treatment: $15.8 billion, representing an increase of 5.3 per cent. Total
hospital episodes over the 12 months to March 2022 increased by 7.5 per cent,
to a total of 4.6 million episodes.
o General treatment: $5.4 billion, representing an increase of 4.6 per cent over the
12 months to March 2022. Services also increased by 2.6 per cent, to a total of
91.9 million services.
• As at July 2022 / 2022 Premium Round, there were:
o 1,316 declared hospitals (eligible to receive private health insurance benefits), of
which 641 were private hospitals and 695 were public hospitals.
o 32 private health insurers operating in Australia, of which 11 are for-profit and 21
are not-for-profit.
• There is public demand for the Medical Costs Finder transparency website. Without any
formal promotion, use of the website is increasing. From 30 December 2019 to 10 July
2022, there were over 171,992 sessions.
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices (blue/green text). Departmental officers must ensure
that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has been amended
nor cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.]
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FOI 3902
Page 4 of 4
Document 2
OFFICIAL
QB22-000260
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 4 August 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: 13 July 2022
• The Medical Costs Finder website shows median out-of-pocket costs based on
aggregated, de-identified government data for the past financial year.
• The latest enhancements will be available for release shortly and allow individual
medical specialists to publish indicative fees and private health insurer arrangements for
common services at a postcode level.
• The enhancements wil provide further transparency for consumers about the costs of
private health services. The Department is progressing further enhancements in
consultation with medical specialists, consumers and insurers.
Contact Officer:
Brian Kelleher
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Cleared by:
Penny Shakespeare
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices (blue/green text). Departmental officers must ensure
that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has been amended
nor cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.]
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FOI 3902
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Document 3
OFFICIAL
QB22-000282
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 28 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
s47C
o Amendments to the legislation (Aged Care Act 1997) to establish the 24/7 RN
requirement will optionally permit an exemptions framework.
o The Department of Health and Aged Care wil consult experts, unions, and the
aged care sector to determine whether and on what terms exemptions may be
appropriate. The Department will provide advice to Government on this matter
in the second half of 2022.
o The Government is also consulting on alternative arrangements for the provision
of 24/7 RN care such as on-call arrangements.
Background/ funding
• Residential aged care facilities will receive funding to support them in meeting the new
24/7 registered nurse requirement from July 2023 and the increase to care minutes to a
sector average of 215, including 44 registered nurse minutes, from October 2024.
• The Parliamentary Budget Office costed these election commitments at $452 million and
$1.99 billion respectively. Actual funding for the commitments wil be announced as part
of the October Budget.
• Details on the funding that wil support the increase to care minutes and
implementation of the 24/7 on site registered nurse requirements wil be announced as
part of the October Budget.
• These new measures to improve the quality of aged care wil be supported by
mandatory reporting through the Quarterly Financial Report and a new monthly report
on instances where a registered nurse is not on site.
• The data captured by these reports wil be used to measure and monitor provider
compliance with the new 24/7 registered nurse and care minutes requirements.
This data and intel igence wil be provided to the Aged Care Quality and Safety
Commission (the Commission) to review and consider an appropriate, risk-based and
proportionate regulatory response.
• The Commission understands that the ability of services to meet the requirements may
vary due to a range of factors such as thin markets (geographically or otherwise).
The Commission will consider whether non-compliance is the result of genuine factors
outside of the control of the providers (such as workforce shortages) versus provider
inaction in determining its response.
OFFICIAL
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only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has been amended nor
cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.]
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FOI 3902
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Document 3
OFFICIAL
QB22-000282
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 28 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Recent Media
• The Brisbane Times, July 28 2022, has reported that ‘Paul Sadler said one in five
providers, operating about 500 aged care homes, would be unable to put a registered
nurse on shift overnight, and weekends would also be a chal enge’ and ‘that the homes
that would struggle most were smaller metropolitan facilities and those in regional and
rural areas.’
• The Guardian, 3 August 2022, has reported that Martin Bowles, CEO of
Calvary Health Care, said that ‘he was not confident the workforce would be
available, echoing cal s from other providers about the need for the government to
consider exemptions, particularly in rural and remote areas’ and ‘There wil not be
enough nurses in this country at that rate, I would suggest, given al the
other problems and shortages around the country, so we wil have to look
at how we make this up. I actual y think there is a real option here for a
virtual care option, for virtual care nurses, so people who can be on cal al
of the time, if we’re not going to have enough nurses.’
Contact Officer:
Mark Richardson,
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Assistant Secretary,
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Residential Care
Funding Reform Branch
Cleared by:
Nick Hartland, First
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Assistant Secretary,
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Home and Residential
Division
OFFICIAL
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only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has been amended nor
cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.]
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FOI 3902
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Document 4
OFFICIAL
QB22-000295
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 27 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
• The Government will not know the true cost of a wage increase until the FWC makes its
determination.
Background
• The Health Services Union (HSU) and Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
(ANMF) have submitted work value applications to the FWC to vary the three modern
awards covering most aged care workers (Aged Care Wages Matter).
• These applications seek, alongside other variations, a 25% increase to wages for aged
care workers under the following awards:
o Aged Care Award 2010 (Aged Care Award) – covering non-clinical residential
aged care workers, including personal care workers (PCWs), cooks and
administration staff.
o Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
(SCHADS Award) – covering non-clinical home care workers.
o Nurses Award 2020 (Nurses Award) – covering nurses and assistants in nursing.
• The HSU and ANMF have made competing applications to vary the Aged Care Award,
and separate applications to vary the SCHADS Award and Nurses Award, respectively.
o The HSU’s application submits that all workers on the Aged Care Award should
receive a wage increase, while the ANMF’s application applies only to personal
care workers.
• The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended the
Government collaborate with union and employer parties to apply to the FWC to vary
wage rates under the three awards covered in the case (recommendation 84).
• Wages and conditions for aged care workers are lower than in similar health and care
and support sectors. A comparison of award wages is available at Attachment A.
Next steps
• Timetable for the case:
o The parties will file closing written submissions by Friday
22 July 2022.
o The parties will file submissions in reply by Monday
8 August 2022.
o The Commonwealth will file written submissions by Monday
8 August 2022.
o The parties will file submissions in reply to the Commonwealth’s written
submissions by Wednesday
17 August 2022.
o The matter will be listed for oral hearing on:
▪ 24 and 25 August for submissions by the Applicants and the
Commonwealth;
▪ 1 September for submissions by employer parties and reply submissions.
OFFICIAL
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that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text)]
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FOI 3902
Page 3 of 5
Document 4
OFFICIAL
QB22-000295
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 27 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Contact Officer:
Emma Gleeson
Assistant Secretary,
Ph: (02) 6289 s22
Aged Care Workforce
Mobile: s22
Branch, Market and
Workforce Division
Clearance Officer:
Michael Lye
Deputy Secretary,
Ph: (02) 6289 s22
Ageing and Aged Care
Mobile s22
Group
OFFICIAL
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that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text)]
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FOI 3902
Page 5 of 5
Document 4
OFFICIAL
QB22-000295
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 27 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Level 6
$26.98
$33.73
Level 7
$27.46
$34.33
*Note: In Tables 1 and 2 denotes the most common pay level for aged care workers on the Aged
Care Award or SCHADS Award is denoted with an asterisk. Note the Department does not hold this
information about the General Retail Industry Award Fast Food Industry Award or NDIA workers.
Table 3: Comparison of entry-level registered nurse wages – Nurses Award vs State/Territory
public sector registered nurses
Nurses Award 2020
$25.79
Nurses Award 2020 with 25% uplift
$32.24
NSW Award wage
$33.13
Vic enterprise agreement wage
$34.17
Qld Award wage
$37.46
ACT enterprise agreement wage
$36.67
SA Award wage
$34.55
Tas Award wage
$34.29
WA Award wage
$35.16
NT enterprise agreement wage
$36.15
OFFICIAL
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that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text)]
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FOI 3902
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Document 5
OFFICIAL
QB22-000296
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 4 1 August 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Cleared by:
Michael Lye
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices (blue/green text). Departmental officers must
ensure that only factual content is provided by the Department (black text). No content in blue or green text has
been amended nor cleared by the Department of Health and Aged Care.] [Th s document may have been mod f ed n
the M ste al Off ces. Depa t e tal off ce s ust e su e that o ly factual co te t s p ov ded by the Depa t e t]
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Document 6
FOI 3902
Page 2 of 2
QB22-000324
1
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 20 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: 10 December 2020
pathway. Inclusion in this list means that endorsement from a Human Research Ethics
Committee is not required before applying to the TGA to become an Authorised Prescriber.
This vastly streamlines the application process for prescribers. As of 30 June 2022, 814
medical practitioners have been approved under the 'Established history of use pathway'.
•
Over 320 different unapproved medicinal cannabis products have been prescribed via these
patient access pathways. These products include a range of contents and ratios of CBD and
THC, and also a wide variety of dosage forms including oral solution, capsules, oil
formulations and lozenges.
• Medicinal cannabis is being prescribed for a range of conditions from chronic pain
management, psychological conditions (anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia),
cancer pain and symptom management and certain epileptic conditions
Down scheduling of low dose cannabidiol • Since 15 December 2020, certain low dose cannabidiol (CBD) preparations have been down
scheduled from Schedule 4 (Prescription Medicine) to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only
Medicine).
• This allows certain TGA approved low-dose CBD containing products to be supplied over the
counter by a pharmacist, without a prescription. Currently there are no TGA approved
products on the ARTG that meet the Schedule 3 criteria, however, companies may lodge an
application to the TGA for inclusion of a product in the ARTG.
Affordability
• Only medicines registered on the ARTG can be considered for PBS listing by the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). On 1 May 2021, Epidyolex, used in
combination with at least two other anti-epileptic medicines was included on the PBS.
• Some states (VIC, NSW, and TAS) are subsidising the cost to some patients through access
programs or through clinical trials.
REFORMS
Office of Drug Control
• Amendments to the medicinal cannabis scheme in the
Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 commenced
in December 2021. These changes:
o introduce a single, perpetual licence model for medicinal cannabis regulation and a
simpler permit regime, and
o reduce the regulatory burden on Australia’s domestic industry.
• The medicinal cannabis activity-based cost recovery model is being reviewed in 2022
following the single licence and permit reforms, so that fees and charges applied to the
medicinal cannabis scheme are consistent with the Australian Government Charging
framework.
Contact Officer:
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Nick Henderson
(02) 6289 s22
s22
First Assistant Secretary
Gillian Mitchell
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Contact Officer:
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
A/g Deputy Secretary
Tracey Duffy
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices. Departmental officers must ensure that only factual content
is provided by the Department]
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FOI 3902
Page 3 of 4
Document 7
OFFICIAL
QB22-000326
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 12 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
•
Often when older Australians are waiting for a HCP they are considering other options
as well, including whether or not residential care is an appropriate option. HCPs
supplements other services that older Australians may access, including palliative and
health care services.
s47C
• A HCP must only be used for ageing related care and services. When making
decisions on inclusions and exclusions of a Home Care Package (HCP), providers are
expected to consult the ‘Inclusions/Exclusions Framework’ in the Home Care
Packages Operational Manual found at
www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/home-care-packages-program-
operational-manual-a-guide-for-home-care-providers
• The use of package funds for expenses that al citizens are expected to pay for
themselves throughout their life, regardless of age, is excluded from the HCP
Program. This includes items such as heating and cooling, purchase of food and
payment for holidays/entertainment.
• The Government is committed to reforming the aged care system to deliver the
supports older Australians need and deserve (see
QB22-000328 -
Reforms to in-
home aged care).
Background/ funding Home Care Packages Program Funding
• Older Australians are increasingly choosing to remain in their own homes for longer.
HCPs allow consumers to access a range of services and equipment which assist them to
live independently in the community. Recent HCP expenditure (rounded to $bil ions) and
allocated HCPs are indicated in the table below, as well as estimates for 2021-22
through 2023-24.
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
(ACTUAL)
(estimate)
(estimate)
(estimate)
HCP Funding
$4.2b
$5.3b
$6.5b
$7.15b
Al ocated HCPs at 30 June
195,69912
235,597
275,597
275,597
Financial estimates are as per the 2022-23 Budget update. Home care forms part of the residential and home care special appropriation.
Final numbers for 2021-22 are not yet available.
12 2020-21 Annual Report.
OFFICIAL
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content is provided by the Department]
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FOI 3902
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Document 7
OFFICIAL
QB22-000326
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 12 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Access to home care in remote Australia – equity through the NPS
• The National Priority System (NPS) is a mechanism for assigning packages to ensure
equity for all older Australians requiring support.
o People approved for a HCP and actively seeking services are placed on the NPS to
wait for a HCP to be allocated. The NPS is refreshed each night to ensure the
release of HCPs is up to date, and HCPs are released on a weekly basis to all four
levels, across high and medium priorities.
o A person's place in the NPS is determined by the time waiting for care, the ACAT
approval for that level of care, and their priority for home care.
• The location of a person has no bearing on their wait time for a HCP; therefore wait
times for HCPs in remote Australia are no different than elsewhere in Australia.
o Between 27 February 2017 and 31 March 202213, the median wait times elapsed
between approval and assignment of a HCP at each level and priority for service,
were consistent across all of Australia.
• Since February 2017, there has been growth in the number of providers delivering care
to people in al locations including remote and very remote. At least three approved HCP
providers have operational capacity to deliver services across all four HCP levels in each
of the 73 Aged Care Planning Regions, some of which are based solely in remote and
very remote locations.
Contact Officer: Nick Hartland, First Assistant Secretary,
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Home and Residential Division
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Cleared by:
Michael Lye, Deputy Secretary,
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Ageing and Aged Care Group
(02) 6289 s22
s22
13 Consistent times between 27 February 2017 and 30 June 2021 are evident in the annual Report of
Government Services publications. Consistent times in 2021-22 is detected in unpublished data held by the
Department of Health and Aged Care.
OFFICIAL
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Document 9
OFFICIAL
QB22-000351
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 21 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
o expanding the Murrumbidgee single employer model trial to more regions across
rural Australia
o increasing funding to more than 1,000 placements under the John Flynn
Prevocational Doctor program, to encourage more hospital-based junior doctors
to enter general practice in rural Australia
o additional training posts for rural generalist registrars, GP registrars, and
fellowed GPs to undertake advanced skills training to deliver the extra medical
services their communities need
o greater incentives for GPs and multidisciplinary teams to work in general practice
in rural areas under the Workforce Incentive Program.
• We know that where health professionals learn and train influences where they choose
to work and that’s why the Government is investing in more rural education and
training.
o The Government is increasing education, medical training and placement of
doctors in Far North Queensland by providing $25 million and 20 medical
Commonwealth Supported Places to James Cook University to deliver an
end-to-end rural medical school program in Cairns.
o To support the transition to College-led GP training, the Government is providing
$42 million over four financial years from 2022-23, for General Practice
Workforce Planning and Prioritisation at GP catchment level under the Australian
General Practitioner Training (AGPT) Program to better plan for each
community’s GP workforce needs.
▪ This will ensure that GP registrars are supported to train in the
communities that are in greatest need of their services.
o Scholarship programs are funded for medical university level courses to gain
their initial medical qualifications, and also to increase the skills, capacity and/or
scope of practice of existing health professionals.
• Sustainable rural services rely on teams of health professionals working together at the
top of their scope of practice to care for their communities.
o The Government is committing $2.8 million to build the Central Highlands Allied
Health Clinic in Emerald, providing facilities for trainee health professionals to
conduct their placements in Emerald and provide services to patients in the
Central Highlands.
• As well as taking immediate action, the Government is not forgetting the necessary long-
term work, and is making improvements to the way we plan and build our workforce.
o The National Medical Workforce Strategy 2021–2031 (Strategy) is guiding
long-term collaborative medical workforce planning across Australia, to
OFFICIAL
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FOI 3902
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Document 9
OFFICIAL
QB22-000351
Date QTB created:
12 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 21 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
rebalance supply and distribution of doctors across specialities, and build a
flexible and responsive medical workforce.
o We are also developing a similar Nursing and Midwifery Workforce Strategy and
a 10 Year Nurse Practitioner Plan, to support better long term planning and
reform. This will ensure Australians have the health and aged care nursing
workforce we need in future.
Contact
Matthew Williams, First Assistant Secretary,
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Officer:
Health Workforce Division
(02) 5156 s22
s22
Cleared by:
Penny Shakespeare
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Deputy Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices. Departmental officers must ensure that only factual
content is provided by the Department]
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Document 10
OFFICIAL
QB22-000362
Date QTB created:
13 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 13 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
• The clinics, which will begin operations from mid-2023, are a key part of commitments
made by the Government to strengthen Medicare and relieve pressures on the health
system.
• The Urgent Care Clinics will:
o be based in existing General Practice clinics and community health centres
o provide free services
o be open during extended business hours and accept walk-in patients and
o provide treatments that do not require a hospital admission such as broken
bones, wounds, minor burns, scrapes, and other illnesses.
Background/ funding
• The Australian Government will invest over $1 billion in additional funding over four
years from 2022-23 in primary care reform.
Next steps
• s47C
o I will chair the first meeting on 29 July in Sydney.
• s47C
o The clinics will begin being operational from mid-2023.
• s47C
o Grants will commence this financial year.
Contact Officer:
Simon Cotterell
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
First Assistant Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Primary Care Division
Cleared by:
Tania Rishniw
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Deputy Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
Primary and Community Care Group
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices. Departmental officers must ensure that only factual
content is provided by the Department]
Page
2 of
2
FOI 3902
Page 2 of 3
Document 11
OFFICIAL
QB22-000398
Date QTB created:
21 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 26 July 2022
s47E(d)
Facts and Figures
• Administration and management costs make up a significant proportion of home care
package expenditure. Some are charged separately (care and package management)
usually as a percentage of the basic subsidy, while some are built into the unit price of
direct care charges (e.g. cost of office accommodation).
• Over 40% of providers currently charge more than 25% in combined care and package
management fees, and approximately 4% of providers charge more than 50 per cent in
combined care and package management fees.
Contact Officer:
Greg Pugh
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
Assistant Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices [blue tex]. Departmental officers must ensure that only
factual content is provided by the Department [black text]]
Page 2 of 2
FOI 3902
Page 3 of 3
Document 11
OFFICIAL
QB22-000398
Date QTB created:
21 July 2022
Last Updated by Department: 26 July 2022
Last Updated by Adviser: day month year
Cleared by:
Thea Connolly
Work Phone:
Mobile Phone:
First Assistant Secretary
(02) 6289 s22
s22
OFFICIAL
[This document may have been modified in the Ministerial Offices [blue tex]. Departmental officers must ensure that only
factual content is provided by the Department [black text]]
Page 2 of 2
