Annual Report - Outcome 3: Access to Medical Services

Performance Information for Outcome 3 Administered Programs

Administered Funding – Access to Medical Services Programs

Including: 3.1 Medicare Services; 3.2 Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision; 3.3 Diagnostic Imaging Services; 3.4 Pathology Services; 3.5 Chronic Disease – Radiation Oncology; and 3.6 Targeted Assistance – Medical.

Indicator:

Efficient Medicare services.

Measured by:

Number of Medicare rebates provided.

Reference Point/
Target:

Medicare rebates will be provided for an estimated 275 million services, representing approximately 13 services per capita.

Note: The target for this performance indicator was amended in the 2007–08 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.

Result: Indicator met.

The Department’s estimates of Medicare Benefits Schedule expenditure continued to provide an accurate guide for the Government and the community on future expenditure, having regard for such factors as the effects of new policy, population growth, and Australians’ changing patterns of use of medical services.

In the 2007–08 Portfolio Additional Estimates, the service target was revised from 264 million (12.6 services per capita) to 275 million (13 services per capita) due mainly to strong uptake of newly introduced primary care items.

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Indicator:

Efficiency of assessments for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.

Measured by:

Percentage of new medical technologies listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.

Reference Point/
Target:

100% of new medical technologies listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.

Result: Indicator met.

100% of services involving new technologies that were added to or confirmed as part of the Medicare Benefits Schedule were assessed by the Medical Services Advisory Committee for safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness. These included: double balloon enteroscopy; endoscopic ultrasound for staging pancreatic, gastric, oesophageal and hepato-biliary neoplasms; hysteroscopic sterilisation; and endoluminal grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

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Administered Funding – Access to Medical Services Programs
Including: 3.1 Medicare Services; 3.2 Alternative Funding for Health Service Provision; 3.3 Diagnostic Imaging Services; 3.4 Pathology Services; 3.5 Chronic Disease – Radiation Oncology; and 3.6 Targeted Assistance – Medical.
Indicator:	Efficient Medicare services.
Measured by:	Number of Medicare rebates provided.
Reference Point/ Target:	Medicare rebates will be provided for an estimated 275 million services, representing approximately 13 services per capita.
Note: The target for this performance indicator was amended in the 2007–08 Health and Ageing Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements.
Result: Indicator met.
The Department’s estimates of Medicare Benefits Schedule expenditure continued to provide an accurate guide for the Government and the community on future expenditure, having regard for such factors as the effects of new policy, population growth, and Australians’ changing patterns of use of medical services. In the 2007–08 Portfolio Additional Estimates, the service target was revised from 264 million (12.6 services per capita) to 275 million (13 services per capita) due mainly to strong uptake of newly introduced primary care items.

Performance Information for Outcome 3 Departmental Outputs

Output Group 1 - Policy Advice

Indicator:

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

Measured by:

Ministerial satisfaction.

Reference Point/
Target:

Maintain or increase from previous year.

Result: Indicator met.

Ministers were satisfied with the advice provided by the Department for Australian Government decision-making. This is on par with ministerial satisfaction in 2006–07.

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Indicator:

Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Measured by:

Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.

Reference Point/
Target:

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

Result: 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. Twelve Medical Services Advisory Committee Submissions were also completed.

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Output Group 1 - Policy Advice
Indicator:	Quality, relevant and timely advice for Australian Government decision-making.
Measured by:	Ministerial satisfaction.
Reference Point/ Target:	Maintain or increase from previous year.
Result: Indicator met.
Ministers were satisfied with the advice provided by the Department for Australian Government decision-making. This is on par with ministerial satisfaction in 2006–07.

Output Group 2 - Program Management

Indicator:

Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses.

Measured by:

Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses.

Reference Point/
Target:

0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.

Result: Indicator not met.

Actual expenses for Outcome 3 were $13.052 billion compared to the predicted $12.918 billion (which was a 1% variance from budgeted expenses). This variance was primarily due to a higher demand for services than estimated within the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

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Indicator:

Stakeholders to participate in program development.

Measured by:

Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings.

Reference Point/
Target:

Stakeholders participate in program development through surveys, conferences, meetings and consultative bodies.

Result: Indicator met.

Stakeholders met with the Department through the Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee, Memorandum of Understanding Committees and working groups. Stakeholders also participated in program development through meetings.

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Output Group 2 - Program Management
Indicator:	Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses.
Measured by:	Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses.
Reference Point/ Target:	0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.
Result: Indicator not met.
Actual expenses for Outcome 3 were $13.052 billion compared to the predicted $12.918 billion (which was a 1% variance from budgeted expenses). This variance was primarily due to a higher demand for services than estimated within the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Major Reviews

Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business

Commencement Date:

To date, the Government has not decided on the timing to proceed with a review of health technology assessment in response to the Rethinking Regulation: Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business.

End Date:

Not applicable.

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Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business
Commencement Date:	To date, the Government has not decided on the timing to proceed with a review of health technology assessment in response to the Rethinking Regulation: Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business.
End Date:	Not applicable.

Extended Medicare Safety Net

Commencement Date:

15/03/07

End Date:

To be determined.

Related Performance Indicator:

Efficient Medicare services.

Indicator:	Efficiency of assessments for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.
Measured by:	Percentage of new medical technologies listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.
Reference Point/ Target:	100% of new medical technologies listed for funding under the Medicare Benefits Schedule have been assessed for evidence of safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness.
Result: Indicator met.
100% of services involving new technologies that were added to or confirmed as part of the Medicare Benefits Schedule were assessed by the Medical Services Advisory Committee for safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness. These included: double balloon enteroscopy; endoscopic ultrasound for staging pancreatic, gastric, oesophageal and hepato-biliary neoplasms; hysteroscopic sterilisation; and endoluminal grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Indicator:	Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.
Measured by:	Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.
Reference Point/ Target:	Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.
Result: 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. Twelve Medical Services Advisory Committee Submissions were also completed.

Indicator:	Stakeholders to participate in program development.
Measured by:	Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings.
Reference Point/ Target:	Stakeholders participate in program development through surveys, conferences, meetings and consultative bodies.
Result: Indicator met.
Stakeholders met with the Department through the Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee, Memorandum of Understanding Committees and working groups. Stakeholders also participated in program development through meetings.

Extended Medicare Safety Net
Commencement Date:	15/03/07
End Date:	To be determined.
Related Performance Indicator:	Efficient Medicare services.

Outcome 3: Access to Medical Services > Performance Information

Performance Information for Outcome 3 Administered Programs

Performance Information for Outcome 3 Departmental Outputs

Major Reviews