House of Representatives

Replacement Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By the Authority of the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP

Financial Impact Statement

As set out in the National Partnership Agreement for E-Health, the Healthcare Identifiers Service is funded until 30 June 2012 as part of the $218 million (50:50 cost shared between the Commonwealth and the states and territories allocated by COAG to the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) in November 2008.

Of that $218 million, $52.02 million has been allocated through NEHTA to fund the operation of the Healthcare Identifiers Service by Medicare Australia.

In addition to the funding that has already been allocated by COAG, $0.5 million funding in 2010-11 and 2011-12 has been allocated by the Commonwealth to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to provide regulatory oversight and advice on the introduction of healthcare identifiers.

The National Partnership Agreement for E-Health states that the basis for future funding for the Healthcare Identifiers Service after 30 June 2012 will need to be determined in discussions between the Commonwealth, states and territories.