Higher standards and less waste
These reforms will help to ensure that the right services are delivered in the right place at the right time. This will make for a more effective and efficient health system.
Improving the efficiency of the health system will make it more sustainable into the future.
Tough new national standards and reporting
The Australian Government will leverage its majority funding responsibility to ensure health and hospital services deliver on tough new national standards. These will cover:
- access to public hospitals, including emergency department and elective surgery waiting times;
- access to local GPs and other health professionals; and
- improved safety and quality across the health system.
These national standards will be backed by transparent public reporting — which will increase accountability for health services and governments and deliver improved outcomes for Australians.
Paying for services: reducing waste and ending blame
Local Hospital Networks will be paid an efficient price per hospital service delivered. States will no longer receive block funding for all hospital services. This will reduce waste and increase the number of services provided for each dollar invested.
An Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, at arm's length from governments, will set the national efficient price of public hospital services. The umpire will determine the rate of growth in health costs, and put an end to finger pointing between governments over whether funding is keeping up. The umpire will also take into account the higher cost of delivering services in rural areas, including the use of block funding where appropriate.
