COAG Announcements

This represents the most significant reform to Australia's health and hospitals system since the introduction of Medicare, and one of the largest reforms to service delivery in the history of the Federation. These reforms will deliver better health and hospitals by:

• helping patients receive more seamless care across sectors of the health system;
• improving the quality of care patients receive through high-performance standards and improved engagement of local clinicians; and
• providing a secure funding base for health and hospitals into the future.

 In addition, a package of $5.4 billion in reforms and investment will provide:

• recurrent funding for around 22,000 additional elective surgery procedures in 2013-14;
• additional funding for emergency department services to implement a new four-hour National Access Target to ensure patients are admitted, referred or discharged within four hours of presentation to an emergency department. This will support the delivery of around 805,000 emergency department attendances in 2013-14;
• personalised care with greater flexibility for patients with diabetes, as a first step in transforming the way patients with chronic disease are treated;
• 1,375 more general practitioners (GPs) practising or in training by 2013, and 5,500 new GPs or GPs undergoing training in the next decade;
• 680 more specialist doctors in the next decade;
• around 5,000 aged care places or beds over four years;
• 1,316 new sub-acute care beds by 2013-14; and
• 1,200 packages of sub-acute care over four years. Sub-acute care includes rehabilitation, palliative care, mental health and geriatric services in hospitals, residential services and community-based settings.

 Primary Health Care and Aged Care

COAG, with the exception of Western Australia, agreed the Commonwealth will have full funding and policy responsibility for GP and primary health care, as defined in the National Health and Hospitals Network Agreement, including community health centres, primary mental health care, immunisation, and cancer screening programs. The Commonwealth will build on its responsibility for general practice and primary health care with the introduction of primary health care organisations. These bodies will be responsible for improving integration of services and reducing access gaps so that their local community can access care that meets local needs. Existing service delivery arrangements will be maintained for a period of five years unless otherwise agreed by governments.

COAG, with the exception of Western Australia, further agreed the Commonwealth will have full funding and policy responsibility for aged care. These reforms include a transfer to the Commonwealth of current resourcing for aged care services from the Home and Community Care (HACC) program (except in Victoria). In aged care, these reforms will support the development of a nationally consistent aged care system, covering basic home care through to nursing homes. Transition to the new aged care arrangements will occur in a way that ensures there is no disruption to the current recipients of these services, including younger people with disabilities who are currently receiving care in aged care services.

All States, with the exception of Western Australia, will work with the Commonwealth on system-wide primary health care policy, including where coordination is required to improve system integration or service planning.

Having one level of government responsible for the majority of hospital funding and all of primary health care and aged care will create strong incentives to support a healthier community and reduce pressure on hospitals. This will also help reduce cost-shifting and blame-shifting.

 Please click HERE for a printable version of the COAG Communique

 

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