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Annual Report - Outcome 3: Access to Medical Services > Part 2 Performance Information

Performance Information for Administered Items


Administered Funding – Access to Medical Services Programs, including:
  • Medicare Services;
  • Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision;
  • Diagnostic Imaging Services;
  • Pathology Services;
  • Chronic Disease – Radiation Oncology; and
  • Targeted Assistance – Medical.
Indicator Measured by Reference Point or Target
Efficient Medicare Services. Number of Medicare rebates provided. Medicare rebates will be provided for an estimated 255 million services, representing approximately 12.3 services per capita.
Indicator met. Medicare rebates provided for 257.9 million services representing approximately 12.3 services per capita.
Efficient Medicare safety net. Number of families and singles that benefit from the extended Medicare safety net. An estimated 446,000 families and 120,000 singles benefit from the extended Medicare safety net in calendar year 2006.

Indicator met in relation to families.

Indicator not met in relation to singles.

Figures available at the end of September show that 445,687 families, and 65,467 singles received Medicare safety net benefits in the 2006 calendar year.

The number of families and singles benefiting from the Medicare safety nets will increase further as claims for the 2006 calendar year continue to be submitted to Medicare Australia for processing.

Efficiency of assessments for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness. Percentage of new medical services listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness. 100.0% of new medical services listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.
Indicator met.

100.0% of all new medical services listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have regard to evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.

All new medical services were listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule following consideration of relevant evidence and/or assessment by the Medical Services Advisory Committee.
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Performance Information for Departmental Outputs


Output Group 1. Policy Advice, including:
  • Medicare Services;
  • Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision;
  • Diagnostic Imaging Services;
  • Pathology Services;
  • Chronic Disease – Radiation Oncology;
  • Targeted Assistance – Medical; and
  • 2006–07 Budget measures.
Indicator Measured by Reference Point or Target

Quality, relevant and timely advice for Government decision-making.

Ministerial satisfaction.

Maintain or increase from previous year.

Indicator met.

Ministers were satisfied with the quality, relevance and timeliness of advice provided for Government decision-making.

Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.

Indicator substantially met.

The Department produced evidence-based policy research, such as the provision of policy advice to the Minister for the implementation of changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule, in the timeframe of 18 months.

14 Medical Services Advisory Committee Submissions were completed.

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Output Group 2. Program Management, including:
  • financial management and reporting;
  • development and management of grants and contracts; and
  • administration and revision of legislation as required.
Indicator Measured by Reference Point or Target
Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses. Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses. 0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.
Indicator met. Actual expenses for Outcome 3 were $11.74 billion compared to the predicted $11.73 billion. Overall expenses varied by 0.1% from budgeted expenses.
Stakeholders to participate in program development. Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings. Stakeholders participated in program development eg. through surveys, conferences and meetings.
Substantially met.

Stakeholders met with the Department through the Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee, Memorandum of Understanding Committees and working groups.

Stakeholders participated in program development through meetings.

State and Territory governments, medical colleges, professional groups and industry associations contributed regularly to program development through a wide range of forums such as Memorandum of Understanding Committees, Radiation Oncology Reform Implementation Committee and its working groups.
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Performance Assessment: Reviews


Review Review of the Professional Services Review Scheme
Timeframe: Commencement date: March 2006

End date: May 2007
Related Key Strategic Direction: Long Term Affordability and Sustainability of the Medicare Benefits Schedule
Web Address for Published Results: www.psr.gov.au
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Produced by the Portfolio Strategies Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
URL: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/annrpt/publishing.nsf/Content/outcome-03-part-2-performance-information-3
If you would like to know more or give us your comments contact: annrep@health.gov.au