Aggregated data on Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP) applications exceeding $1.9 million, including approval and rejection numbers, from 1 January 2025 to 19 January 2026.
Dear Dear Department of Health and Aged Care,
I am writing to request access to documents under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 relating to the administration of the Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP).
This request seeks access to factual, aggregated and de-identified documents only and does not seek personal medical records.
Documents requested
For the period 1 January 2025 to 19 January 2026, I request access to documents recording:
The number of MTOP applications where the total funding requested or approved was AUD $1.9 million or greater, including the number approved and rejected or not progressed.
Any documents describing financial thresholds, escalation or governance arrangements applied to MTOP applications at or above this funding level.
Documents recording how value for money, expenditure risk, and proper use of public resources are assessed for high-value MTOP applications, including material prepared to support compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Any aggregated or de-identified records indicating whether approved treatments at this funding level were recorded as experimental, off-label, or not previously used for the specific condition at the time of approval.
If any document contains exempt material, I request access to any reasonably separable non-exempt material in accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act. If documents are not held in the form requested, please provide documents showing how such information is ordinarily recorded or confirm that no such records exist.
I am willing to consult if clarification is required.
Yours faithfully,
Kristin Dietrich
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health, Disability
and Ageing (the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
I am writing to request access to documents under section 15 of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 relating to the administration of the
Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP).
This request seeks access to factual, aggregated and de-identified
documents only and does not seek personal medical records.
Documents requested
For the period 1 January 2025 to 19 January 2026, I request access to
documents recording:
The number of MTOP applications where the total funding requested or
approved was AUD $1.9 million or greater, including the number approved
and rejected or not progressed.
Any documents describing financial thresholds, escalation or governance
arrangements applied to MTOP applications at or above this funding level.
Documents recording how value for money, expenditure risk, and proper use
of public resources are assessed for high-value MTOP applications,
including material prepared to support compliance with the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Any aggregated or de-identified records indicating whether approved
treatments at this funding level were recorded as experimental, off-label,
or not previously used for the specific condition at the time of approval.
If any document contains exempt material, I request access to any
reasonably separable non-exempt material in accordance with section 22 of
the FOI Act. If documents are not held in the form requested, please
provide documents showing how such information is ordinarily recorded or
confirm that no such records exist.
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2617. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 19 January 2026. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 18 February 2026.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
23 January 2026, if you agree that information regarding any public
service employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan
Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666| E: [3][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Kristin Dietrich <[FOI #14200 email]>
Sent: Monday, 19 January 2026 5:44 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Aggregated data on Medical
Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP) applications exceeding $1.9 million,
including approval and rejection numbers, from 1 January 2025 to 19
January 2026.
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
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Dear Department of Health and Aged Care,
I am writing to request access to documents under section 15 of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 relating to the administration of the
Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP).
This request seeks access to factual, aggregated and de-identified
documents only and does not seek personal medical records.
Documents requested
For the period 1 January 2025 to 19 January 2026, I request access to
documents recording:
The number of MTOP applications where the total funding requested or
approved was AUD $1.9 million or greater, including the number approved
and rejected or not progressed.
Any documents describing financial thresholds, escalation or governance
arrangements applied to MTOP applications at or above this funding level.
Documents recording how value for money, expenditure risk, and proper use
of public resources are assessed for high-value MTOP applications,
including material prepared to support compliance with the Public
Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Any aggregated or de-identified records indicating whether approved
treatments at this funding level were recorded as experimental, off-label,
or not previously used for the specific condition at the time of approval.
If any document contains exempt material, I request access to any
reasonably separable non-exempt material in accordance with section 22 of
the FOI Act. If documents are not held in the form requested, please
provide documents showing how such information is ordinarily recorded or
confirm that no such records exist.
I am willing to consult if clarification is required.
Yours faithfully,
Kristin Dietrich
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Dear Jordan,
Thank you for your acknowledgement of my FOI request (FOI 26-2617).
For clarity, I confirm that I am not seeking the names of any public service employees, whether SES or APS, nor the direct telephone numbers of staff. I also agree to the exclusion of draft and duplicate documents as outlined.
Kind regards,
Kristin Dietrich