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Annual Report - Outcome 9: Private Health > Part 2 Performance Information

Performance Information for Administered Items

Administered Funding – Private Health Program:
  • Private Health Insurance.
Indicator Measured by Reference Point or Target
Maintain number of people covered by private health insurance. Percentage change from previous year. Maintain number of people covered (43.1% or 8.8 million people in December 2005).
Indicator met. 9.1 million (43.5%) people had private health insurance for hospital treatment in June 2007 compared to 8.9 million in December 2005. This is an increase of 0.8 of a percentage point from June 2006.
Increase in the proportion of in-hospital episodes delivered to private patients in public and private hospitals. Percentage change from previous year. Increased proportion compared with 34.0% in 2003-04.
Indicator met. The proportion of in-hospital episodes delivered to private patients in public and private hospitals in 2005-06 was 34.8%. This is the latest available data. Figures for 2006-07 will not be available until May 2008.

Performance Information for Departmental Outputs

Output Group 1. Policy Advice, including:
  • Private Health Insurance; 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 met. The Department provided high quality and timely evidence-based research and analysis to inform the Government within the timeframes required. This policy research was used to implement the improvements to private health insurance. Private health insurance arrangements cover a broader range of care and treatment such as management programs for healthier lifestyles.

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 varied by 0.2% from budgeted expenses in 2006-07.
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.
Indicator met. The Department liaised with health funds, private hospitals, day facilities and consumer representatives regularly through a discussion paper, consultation forums and a directions paper.


Industry stakeholders have indicated a high level of satisfaction with the quality and timeliness of communications with the Department particularly around the development of the new private health insurance legislation. This has allowed the Department to foster and enhance stakeholder relationships across the industry.

Performance Assessment: Reviews


Review: Review of Health Fund Performance Indicators
Timeframe: Commencement date: 9 November 2005
End date: 30 September 2006
Related Key Strategic Direction: Improvements to Private Health Insurance


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-09-part-2-performance-information-3
If you would like to know more or give us your comments contact: annrep@health.gov.au