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Pathology Funding Agreement

The Review of Pathology Funding Arrangements (the Review) has been completed and outcome is a five-year Pathology Funding Agreement between the Government and the pathology sector, to come into effect from 1 July 2011. A formal announcement by the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, was made on 11 April 2011, in advance of the Federal Budget.

While the Agreement is primarily a mechanism to manage pathology outlays, it also provides for the development of many other initiatives including:

• the development of a National Pathology Framework;
• the development of better decision support for pathology requesting to improve the quality and clinical appropriateness of requesting;
• the implementation of electronic requesting and reporting of pathology across the sector;
• the development of appropriate policy and funding mechanisms for genetic services;
• ensuring a sustainable workforce for pathology;
• a commitment to the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council, National Association of Testing Authorities/ Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia laboratory accreditation;
• ongoing funding for the Quality Use of Pathology Program; and
• a commitment to the Government’s broader e-Health agenda, including adoption of National e-Health Transition Authority standards in relation to the Personally-Controlled Electronic Health Record.

The Pathology Agreement Advisory Committee (PAAC) comprises the parties to the Agreement, as well as Catholic Health Australia.

Minutes and agenda of PAAC and links to its sub-committees.

The Agreement can be read online at the following page - Pathology Funding Agreement 2011 - 2016. Alternatively view a copy of the signed Agreement (PDF 411 KB)

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