National Health Reform
Public hospital funding
Queensland report
March 2014
Issued by the Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool
under section 240 of the National Health Reform Act 2011
Available from the Public Hospital Funding website
Queensland report, March 2014
In this report
This report includes the following tables:
- State pool account transactions
- State managed fund transactions
- NHR funding and payments by service category
- NHR contributions by local hospital network
- Estimated monthly, YTD and annual activity
This report is issued by the Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool under section 240 of the National Health Reform Act 2011.
This report is prepared on a cash basis. It shows monthly and year-to-date (YTD) National Health Reform (NHR) funding and payments for Queensland for March 2014 as part of the National Health Reform Agreement.
Local hospital networks and National Health Reform
A local hospital network (LHN) is an organisation that provides public hospital services in accordance with the Agreement. An LHN can contain one or more hospitals, and is usually defined as a business group, geographical area or community. Every Australian public hospital is part of an LHN.
Note: The term ‘local hospital network’ is a national term. Some states and territories use their own terminology to describe these networks, such as local health districts, health organisations, and hospital and health services.
Under the Agreement, LHNs receive funding for the following public hospital services:
- All admitted and non-admitted services
- All emergency department services provided by a recognised emergency department
- Other outpatient, mental health, sub-acute services and other services that could reasonably be considered a public hospital service.
Note: LHNs also receive funding from other sources, including the Commonwealth, states and territories, and third parties for the provision of other specific functions and services outside the scope of the Agreement, for example dental services, primary care, home and community care, residential aged care and pharmaceuticals. For further information on total funding to a particular LHN, contact the Queensland Department of Health to view the service agreement for that LHN.
Basis for National Health Reform payments – Queensland, March 2014
For the basis of the Commonwealth contribution to NHR funding, see Basis of Commonwealth NHR funding, 2013-14.
The basis used to determine NHR payments to LHNs in Queensland for March 2014 was advised by the Queensland Department of Health to be as follows:
In determining the annual funding allocation for hospital and health services in Queensland, the budget has been based on the Queensland activity-based funding (ABF) model adjusted for agreed transition paths. Activity levels are based on purchased levels in 2011-12 and increased where an assessment of health need demonstrates that additional activity should be purchased, and it is within available funding. With regards to services not covered by activity-based funding, block funding has been provided based on funding levels received in 2011-12 increased for Enterprise Bargaining agreements and non-labour escalation. In addition, efficiency requirements have been levied on all hospital and health services to ensure improved productivity and a closer alignment between costs incurred and the national efficient price.
On a monthly basis, the System Manager makes payments to the Hospital and Health Services as related funding is received. The funding received is from a variety of sources with variable timing of receipt. As such there is variability in relation to the amount paid to Hospital and Health Services on a monthly basis. The major factor relating to payment variability is the timing of state appropriation payments.
Interest received in the pool account from Reserve Bank of Australia is returned to Treasury's consolidated account and is not used for NHR funding.
Queensland has revised their estimated NWAU to be delivered in 2013-14. This change takes effect from April 2014.
In February 2014, the Commonwealth provided Queensland with additional public hospital funding of $10,079,580.55 under the 2013-14 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) funding measure: Public Hospital System - additional funding. This funding was provided to offset the downward adjustment to 2013-14 NHR funding applied at the MYEFO due to the application of updated NHR funding indexation parameters. A requirement of the provision of this funding was that the funding be provided to LHNs through the National Health Funding Pool and / or State Managed Fund.
The Administrator has been advised by Queensland that the Queensland contributions to LHNs through the Pool between March and June 2014 will include this additional funding from the Commonwealth.
Reference information
The financial information outlined in the following report is categorised as:
- NHR funding – when the Commonwealth or state or territory government pays NHR funding into a state pool account or state managed fund.
- NHR payments – when NHR funding that has been deposited into a state pool account or state managed fund is paid out of the state pool account by the Administrator, or is paid out of the state managed fund by the state or territory.
State pool account transactions
Table 1a – State pool account transactions – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows funding paid into the Queensland state pool account by the Commonwealth, Queensland or other states/territories, and payments out of the state pool account to LHNs, the state managed fund, the Queensland Department of Health or the state pool accounts of other states/territories for March 2014.
| NHR funding by source | Paid Into state pool account | Paid Out of state pool account | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Local hospital networks | To State Managed Fund |
To state health department |
To state pool (other State) | Total paid out | ||
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Commonwealth ABF funding |
202,563,639 | 202,563,639 | 202,563,639 | |||
| Commonwealth Block funding |
30,263,728 | 30,263,728 | 30,263,728 | |||
| Commonwealth Other funding |
5,451,853 | 5,451,853 | 5,451,853 | |||
| Total C'wealth funding |
238,279,220 | 202,563,639 | 30,263,728 | 5,451,853 | 238,279,220 | |
| QLD funding |
543,880,021 | 367,098,785 | 0 | 0 | 367,098,785 | |
| Other state/territory funding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 782,159,241 | 569,662,424 | 30,263,728 | 5,451,853 | 0 | 605,378,005 |
See definitions and explanatory notes following table 1b.
Table 1b – State pool account transactions YTD – Queensland, March 2014
Following on from table 1a, this table shows year-to-date (YTD) funding paid into the Queensland state pool account by the Commonwealth, Queensland or other states/territories, and payments out of the state pool account to LHNs, the state managed fund, the Queensland Department of Health or the state pool accounts of other states/territories as at March 2014.
| NHR funding by source | Paid Into state pool account |
Paid Out of state pool account | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Local hospital networks YTD |
To State Managed Fund YTD |
To state health department YTD |
To state pool (other State) YTD |
Total paid out YTD |
||
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Commonwealth ABF funding |
1,806,548,403 | 1,806,548,403 | 1,806,548,403 | |||
| Commonwealth Block funding |
277,329,205 | 277,329,205 | 277,329,205 | |||
| Commonwealth Other funding |
49,242,308 | 49,242,308 | 49,242,308 | |||
| Total C'wealth funding |
2,133,119,916 | 1,806,548,403 | 277,329,205 | 49,242,308 | 2,133,119,916 | |
| QLD funding |
3,615,333,901 | 3,438,061,868 | 0 | 0 | 3,438,061,868 | |
| Other state/territory funding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5,748,453,817 | 5,244,610,271 | 277,329,205 | 49,242,308 | 0 | 5,571,181,784 |
Commonwealth ABF funding represents Acute admitted public, Acute admitted private, Non-admitted, and Emergency department, Sub-acute, and Admitted mental health service categories, which are funded by the Commonwealth through the state pool account and subsequently paid to LHNs.
Commonwealth Block funding represents Non-admitted mental health, Small rural hospitals, Teaching, training & research, and Other non-admitted categories, which are funded by the Commonwealth and paid to the state managed fund.
Commonwealth Other funding represents other amounts funded by the Commonwealth, transacted through the state pool account and subsequently paid to state or territory health departments. This currently represents the Commonwealth contribution to public health.
QLD funding represents funding contributions paid by Queensland into its own state pool account, and subsequently paid to LHNs within the state, to the Queensland health department and/or to other state pool accounts.
Other state/territory funding represents contributions paid to Queensland by other states and territories for cross-border activity.
Note: The grey shaded areas in these tables reflect that these amounts are not applicable for a particular 'paid out' column. For example, Commonwealth block funding is only paid to state managed funds and is not applicable for local hospital networks or state or territory health departments.
NHR funding and payments shown in these tables include GST where applicable.
For more information, see National Health Reform funding and payments.
State managed fund transactions
Table 2a – State managed fund transactions – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows funding paid into the Queensland state managed fund by the Commonwealth and Queensland, and payments out of the state managed fund to LHNs and other provider organisations for March 2014.
| NHR funding by source | Paid into state managed fund | Paid out of state managed fund | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To local hospital networks | To Other | Total paid out | ||
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Commonwealth Block funding | 30,263,728 | 30,263,728 | ||
| State/territory Block funding | 70,031,069 | 46,161,791 | ||
| Total | 100,294,797 | 76,425,519 | 0 | 76,425,519 |
See explanatory notes following table 2b.
Table 2b – State managed fund transactions YTD – Queensland, March 2014
Following on from table 2a, this table shows year-to-date (YTD) funding paid into the Queensland state managed fund by the Commonwealth and Queensland, and YTD payments out of the state managed fund as at March 2014. These amounts include notional payments for July 2012.
| NHR funding by source | Paid into state managed fund YTD |
Paid out of state managed fund YTD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To local hospital networks YTD |
To Other YTD |
Total paid out YTD |
||
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Commonwealth Block funding | 277,329,205 | 277,329,205 | ||
| State/territory Block funding | 479,881,525 | 456,012,246 | ||
| Total | 757,210,730 | 733,341,451 | 0 | 733,341,451 |
Note: See note to table 1b in relation to Commonwealth block funding.
Block funding represents Non-admitted mental health, Small rural hospitals, Teaching, training & research, and Other non-admitted categories.
Commonwealth Block funding represents Commonwealth block funding contributions paid into the state managed fund from the state pool account, and block payments out of the state managed fund to LHNs and other provider organisations.
State/territory Block funding represents Queensland block funding contributions into the state managed fund, and block payments out of the state managed fund to LHNs and other provider organisations.
Note: The grey shaded areas in these tables reflect that these block payments cannot at this stage be identified by source of funding (state, territory or Commonwealth contribution).
NHR funding and payments shown in these tables include GST where applicable.
For more, see National Health Reform funding and payments.
NHR funding and payments by service category
Table 3 – NHR funding and payments by service category – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows NHR funding and payments by service category on both a monthly and year-to-date (YTD) basis for Queensland for March 2014. NHR funding and payments are separated into the following service categories – activity-based funding (ABF), block funding, and other funding.
| Service category | NHR funding | NHR payments | YTD NHR funding |
YTD NHR payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ($) | ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| ABF | ||||
| Acute admitted - public | 435,645,820 | 332,876,065 | 3,169,394,271 | 3,066,624,516 |
| Acute admitted - private | 37,119,735 | 28,221,363 | 264,077,558 | 255,179,185 |
| Non-admitted | 101,655,267 | 77,515,711 | 739,568,924 | 715,429,368 |
| Emergency department | 94,493,989 | 72,084,675 | 689,798,668 | 667,389,354 |
| Admitted mental health | 36,013,324 | 27,433,237 | 257,733,163 | 249,153,076 |
| Sub-acute | 41,451,271 | 31,531,373 | 300,754,669 | 290,834,771 |
| Total ABF (Pool) | 746,379,406 | 569,662,424 | 5,421,327,253 | 5,244,610,271 |
| Block | ||||
| Non-admitted mental health | 30,487,322 | 23,164,189 | 231,825,024 | 224,420,336 |
| Small rural hospitals | 62,981,567 | 48,025,946 | 471,628,293 | 456,748,996 |
| Teaching, training & research | 5,992,929 | 4,602,886 | 47,452,959 | 46,062,916 |
| Other non-admitted services | 832,980 | 632,498 | 6,304,454 | 6,109,203 |
| Total Block (SMF) | 100,294,797 | 76,425,519 | 757,210,730 | 733,341,451 |
| Other | ||||
| Public health funding | 5,451,853 | 5,451,853 | 49,242,308 | 49,242,308 |
| Overdeposit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cross-border | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest | 64,254 | 0 | 555,051 | 0 |
| Total Other (Pool) | 5,516,107 | 5,451,853 | 49,797,359 | 49,242,308 |
| Grand Total | 852,190,310 | 651,539,796 | 6,228,335,342 | 6,027,194,030 |
Total ABF (Pool) is an aggregate of both Commonwealth and state or territory NHR funding and payments for activity-based funding (ABF) which is transacted through the state pool account.
Total Block (SMF) is an aggregate of both Commonwealth and state or territory NHR funding and payments for block funding which is transacted through the state managed fund (SMF).
Total Other (Pool) represents other funding and payments, which are transacted through the state pool account, including public health funding, overdeposits, cross-border funding and payments, and interest.
State and territory cross-border payments can either be:
- Paid to the relevant state or territory's LHNs - included within ABF and/or block payments in the above table, or
- Reimbursed to the relevant state or territory where the state or territory's LHNs are already being funded for the cost of treating cross-border patients - shown in the Cross-border row under Other in the above table.
NHR funding and payments shown in these tables include GST where applicable.
For more information, see National Health Reform funding and payments.
NHR contributions by local hospital network
Table 4a – NHR contributions by local hospital network – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows NHR contributions (from state, territory and Commonwealth sources) made to each LHN in Queensland during March 2014.
NHR contributions to LHNs are separated into an activity-based funding (ABF) component and a block component.
| Local hospital network (LHN) | ABF component (ex GST) |
Block component (ex GST) |
Total NHR payment (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service | 31,284,257 | 4,903,020 | 36,187,277 |
| Cape York Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 1,609,335 | 1,609,335 |
| Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 18,647,178 | 5,545,935 | 24,193,112 |
| Central West Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 1,946,240 | 1,946,240 |
| Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 19,263,169 | 1,592,695 | 20,855,864 |
| Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service | 18,365,423 | 12,529,394 | 30,894,817 |
| Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service | 51,274,974 | 2,606,212 | 53,881,186 |
| Mackay Hospital and Health Service | 14,919,585 | 2,970,721 | 17,890,306 |
| Mater Misericordiae Health Service Brisbane | 37,603,388 | 851,892 | 38,455,280 |
| Metro North Hospital and Health Service | 144,349,506 | 4,669,012 | 149,018,518 |
| Metro South Hospital and Health Service | 106,124,552 | 8,129,510 | 114,254,062 |
| North West Hospital and Health Service | 5,106,100 | 1,459,902 | 6,566,002 |
| South West Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 4,119,433 | 4,119,433 |
| Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service | 37,579,992 | 2,146,001 | 39,725,994 |
| Torres Strait - Northern Peninsula Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 3,621,665 | 3,621,665 |
| Townsville Hospital and Health Service | 37,553,551 | 6,262,835 | 43,816,387 |
| West Moreton Hospital and Health Service | 16,946,829 | 8,772,137 | 25,718,966 |
| Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service | 26,883,581 | 2,604,391 | 29,487,972 |
| Total | 565,902,085 | 76,340,330 | 642,242,415 |
See explanatory notes below table 4b.
Table 4b – NHR contributions by local hospital network YTD – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows YTD NHR contributions (from state, territory and Commonwealth sources) made to each LHN in Queensland as at March 2014.
NHR contributions to LHNs are separated into an activity-based funding (ABF) component and a block component.
| Local hospital network | ABF component YTD (ex GST) |
Block component YTD (ex GST) |
Total NHR payment YTD (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ($) | ($) | ($) | |
| Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service | 317,870,023 | 47,131,647 | 365,001,669 |
| Cape York Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 15,323,144 | 15,323,144 |
| Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 179,358,049 | 52,581,236 | 231,939,285 |
| Central West Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 18,388,748 | 18,388,748 |
| Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 151,619,839 | 15,032,921 | 166,652,759 |
| Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service | 193,684,767 | 118,541,865 | 312,226,632 |
| Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service | 521,771,558 | 24,963,641 | 546,735,199 |
| Mackay Hospital and Health Service | 142,392,283 | 28,141,912 | 170,534,195 |
| Mater Misericordiae Health Service Brisbane | 355,251,321 | 10,056,723 | 365,308,044 |
| Metro North Hospital and Health Service | 1,209,871,357 | 49,102,827 | 1,258,974,184 |
| Metro South Hospital and Health Service | 961,340,133 | 74,680,890 | 1,036,021,022 |
| North West Hospital and Health Service | 47,418,472 | 13,888,131 | 61,306,603 |
| South West Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 38,981,794 | 38,981,794 |
| Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service | 347,596,669 | 22,029,142 | 369,625,811 |
| Torres Strait - Northern Peninsula Hospital and Health Service | 0 | 34,197,568 | 34,197,568 |
| Townsville Hospital and Health Service | 366,055,000 | 61,116,537 | 427,171,536 |
| West Moreton Hospital and Health Service | 177,513,933 | 82,450,974 | 259,964,907 |
| Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service | 237,341,735 | 25,726,082 | 263,067,817 |
| Total | 5,209,085,139 | 732,335,779 | 5,941,420,917 |
NHR contributions in this table are GST exclusive to enable comparability of NHR payments in each LHN report.
Note: This table excludes GST.
The majority of government funding to LHNs is not subject to GST. However in some cases hospital funding to non-government entities does attract GST, for example, denominational hospitals, privately and commercially owned health facilities, or any other non-government third party provider of health services or related supplies.
For more information, see National Health Reform funding and payments.
Estimated monthly, YTD and annual activity
States and territories provide service volume estimates at the start of each financial year, and if required, can continue to refine these estimates during the course of the year. These estimates form the basis of monthly reporting of service volumes until actual service numbers become available. These estimates are expressed as National Weighted Activity Units (NWAU).
States and territories provide estimated annual NWAU to the Administrator as a basis for determining the Commonwealth activity-based funding. Current month NWAU estimates accumulate through the year-to-date (YTD) NWAU, to be equal to the annual NWAU at the end of the financial year.
States and territories may also provide activity information relating to the delivery of other public hospital functions funded.
Table 5 – Estimated monthly, YTD and annual NWAU by local hospital network – Queensland, March 2014
This table shows estimated state or territory hospital activity for activity-based funding services expressed as NWAU for March 2014, the associated cumulative year-to-date (YTD), and total estimated annual NWAU for each LHN in Queensland.
| Local hospital network (LHN) | Estimated NWAU delivered in current month | Estimated NWAU delivered YTD | Estimated annual NWAU 2013-14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service | 7,068 | 63,613 | 85,032 |
| Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 3,746 | 33,711 | 44,940 |
| Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service | 2,344 | 21,094 | 28,116 |
| Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service | 4,289 | 38,601 | 51,468 |
| Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service | 11,711 | 105,398 | 140,531 |
| Mackay Hospital and Health Service | 2,926 | 26,331 | 35,108 |
| Mater Misericordiae Health Service Brisbane | 6,885 | 61,965 | 82,618 |
| Metro North Hospital and Health Service | 23,337 | 210,037 | 278,398 |
| Metro South Hospital and Health Service | 20,149 | 181,337 | 247,623 |
| North West Hospital and Health Service | 1,063 | 9,564 | 12,583 |
| Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service | 7,531 | 67,781 | 90,330 |
| Townsville Hospital and Health Service | 7,400 | 66,601 | 89,073 |
| West Moreton Hospital and Health Service | 4,097 | 36,877 | 49,810 |
| Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service | 5,139 | 46,251 | 61,343 |
| Total | 107,685 | 969,163 | 1,296,974 |
An NWAU is a measure of health service activity expressed as a common unit. It provides a way of comparing and valuing each public hospital service, whether they are admissions, emergency department presentations or outpatient episodes, by weighting them for their clinical complexity. The average hospital service is worth one NWAU - the most intensive and expensive activities are worth multiple NWAU, the simplest and least expensive are worth fractions of an NWAU.
Monthly NHR payments relate to the cash needs of public hospitals and do not necessarily reflect the volume of services to be delivered in the month.
For more information on the NWAU calculation, see Calculation of NWAU.