The spreadsheet showing the Commonwealth’s projected National Health Reform funding to each state and territory as at the 2018-19 Budget (as at the 2017-18 FBO) is available;
Five Year Comparison of Current National Health Reform Agreement to the Next National health Agreement (PDF 142 KB)
Funding for Hospital Services
Commonwealth and State and Territory funding under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) for hospital services is administered through the
National Health Funding Pool.
In 2017-18, some $46.8 billion flowed through the National Health Funding Pool to Local Hospital Networks across all states and territories. For further information relating to 2017-18 funding and information, refer to Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool
2017-18 Annual Report.
On 28 September 2018, the Commonwealth Treasurer issued the
Federal Financial Relations (National Health Reform Payments) Determination 2016-17.
The following table provides an overview of Commonwealth and State and Territory contributions under the NHRA from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
NHFB Funding Pool reporting includes 'Other funding' in State/Territory Contribution.
‘Other’ funding represents other funding sources which are transacted through the National Health Funding Pool, such as public health funding, cross-border, interest or overdeposits, and subsequently paid to state or territory health departments (with the exception of cross-border funding which can be paid to state or territory health departments or to local hospital networks).
PDF Version:
public hospital funding - 12 December 2018 - PDF 42 KB
National | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 13,130.8 | 13,869.5 | 15,463.5 | 17,186.5 | 18,636.1 | 19,937.2 | 6,806.4 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 5.6% | 11.5% | 11.1% | 8.4% | 7.0% | 51.8% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 22,876.2 | 23,061.7 | 23,607.6 | 24,972.3 | 25,652.1 | 26,840.2 | 3,964.0 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 0.8% | 2.4% | 5.8% | 2.7% | 4.6% | 17.3% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 36,007.0 | 36,931.2 | 39,071.1 | 42,158.7 | 44,288.2 | 46,777.4 | 10,770.4 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 2.6% | 5.8% | 7.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 29.9% |
|---|
New South Wales | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 4,172.0 | 4,342.8 | 4,861.0 | 5,509.7 | 5,730.1 | 6,022.5 | 1,850.5 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 4.1% | 11.9% | 13.3% | 4.0% | 5.1% | 44.4% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 6,832.9 | 6,465.8 | 6,335.5 | 6,391.3 | 6,906.9 | 7,439.2 | 606.3 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -5.4% | -2.0% | 0.9% | 8.1% | 7.7% | 8.9% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 11,004.9 | 10,808.7 | 11,196.5 | 11,900.9 | 12,637.0 | 13,461.7 | 2,456.8 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -1.8% | 3.6% | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 22.3% |
|---|
Victoria | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth (2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 3,235.4 | 3,483.2 | 3,863.2 | 4,180.4 | 4,722.1 | 5,021.7 | 1,786.3 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 7.7% | 10.9% | 8.2% | 13.0% | 6.3% | 55.2% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 4,324.5 | 4,482.5 | 4,662.3 | 4,809.4 | 5,148.5 | 5,779.8 | 1,455.3 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 7.1% | 12.3% | 33.7% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 7,559.9 | 7,965.6 | 8,525.5 | 8,989.8 | 9,870.7 | 10,801.4 | 3,241.5 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 5.4% | 7.0% | 5.4% | 9.8% | 9.4% | 42.9% |
|---|
Queensland | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 2,632.4 | 2,815.0 | 3,059.5 | 3,531.1 | 3,851.0 | 4,289.1 | 1,656.8 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 6.9% | 8.7% | 15.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% | 62.9% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 5,158.1 | 5,395.4 | 6,172.7 | 6,400.3 | 6,540.4 | 6,920.5 | 1,762.4 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 4.6% | 14.4% | 3.7% | 2.2% | 5.8% | 34.2% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 7,790.5 | 8,210.3 | 9,232.3 | 9,931.4 | 10,391.3 | 11,209.6 | 3,419.1 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 5.4% | 12.4% | 7.6% | 4.6% | 7.9% | 43.9% |
|---|
Western Australia | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 1,398.1 | 1,518.4 | 1,750.4 | 1,842.8 | 2,089.1 | 2,174.1 | 776.0 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 8.6% | 15.3% | 5.3% | 13.4% | 4.1% | 55.5% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 3,409.8 | 2,768.8 | 2,314.3 | 3,182.1 | 2,651.8 | 2,361.9 | -1,047.9 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -18.8% | -16.4% | 37.5% | -16.7% | -10.9% | -30.7% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 4,807.9 | 4,287.2 | 4,064.6 | 5,024.9 | 4,740.8 | 4,536.0 | -271.9 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -10.8% | -5.2% | 23.6% | -5.7% | -4.3% | -5.7% |
|---|
South Australia | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 1,008.9 | 1,007.9 | 1,125.6 | 1,224.1 | 1,265.7 | 1,348.8 | 339.9 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -0.1% | 11.7% | 8.8% | 3.4% | 6.6% | 33.7% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 1,750.7 | 2,099.7 | 2,114.1 | 2,082.1 | 2,149.4 | 1,883.8 | 133.1 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 19.9% | 0.7% | -1.5% | 3.2% | -12.4% | 7.6% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 2,759.6 | 3,107.6 | 3,239.7 | 3,306.2 | 3,415.1 | 3,232.7 | 473.1 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 12.6% | 4.3% | 2.1% | 3.3% | -5.3% | 17.1% |
|---|
Tasmania | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 291.9 | 292.4 | 333.4 | 375.0 | 387.7 | 424.1 | 132.2 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 0.2% | 14.0% | 12.5% | 3.4% | 9.4% | 45.3% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 489.2 | 635.7 | 635.4 | 657.5 | 697.5 | 789.7 | 300.5 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 30.0% | 0.0% | 3.5% | 6.1% | 13.2% | 61.4% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 781.1 | 928.1 | 968.8 | 1,032.4 | 1,085.1 | 1,213.7 | 432.6 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 18.8% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 5.1% | 11.9% | 55.4% |
|---|
Australian Capital Territory | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 248.3 | 275.2 | 311.0 | 324.7 | 344.5 | 385.6 | 137.3 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 10.8% | 13.0% | 4.4% | 6.1% | 11.9% | 55.3% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 393.3 | 552.4 | 638.7 | 670.2 | 704.4 | 725.1 | 331.8 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 40.4% | 15.6% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 3.0% | 84.4% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 641.6 | 827.6 | 949.6 | 994.9 | 1,048.9 | 1,110.7 | 469.1 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 29.0% | 14.7% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.9% | 73.1% |
|---|
Northern Territory | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | Growth
(2012-13 to 2017-18) |
|---|
| Commonwealth Contribution ($m) | 143.8 | 134.6 | 159.4 | 198.8 | 245.9 | 271.3 | 127.5 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | -6.4% | 18.4% | 24.7% | 23.7% | 10.3% | 88.7% |
|---|
| State/Territory Contributions ($m) | 517.7 | 661.4 | 734.6 | 779.4 | 853.4 | 940.2 | 422.6 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 27.8% | 11.1% | 6.1% | 9.5% | 10.2% | 81.6% |
|---|
| Total Funding ($m) | 661.4 | 796.0 | 894.0 | 978.1 | 1,099.2 | 1,211.5 | 550.1 |
|---|
| Growth (%) | | 20.3% | 12.3% | 9.4% | 12.4% | 10.2% | 83.2% |
|---|
The following graph provides an overview of relative funding growth between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories over this period.
Pricing of hospital services
Under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA), the Australian Government contributes to the cost of state managed public hospitals under a system of Activity Based Funding (ABF).
Approximately 85% of Commonwealth NHR funding is paid to the States and Territories under ABF, with the remainder being paid as block funding grants
(i.e. for small rural hospitals, teaching, training and research, non-admitted mental health and other public health activities).
Under the ABF model, funding for hospital services is calculated and funded on the basis of the Price and the Volume of services delivered. Where:
Price is represented by the National Efficient Price (NEP) as determined by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA); and
Volume of hospital services delivered (represented by the volume of National Weighted Activity Units) as counted and reported by public hospitals (providers).
Performance of hospitals
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publish performance reports and statistics of Australian public and private hospitals including:
Emergency Department Waiting Times
Elective Surgery Waiting Times
Hospital Resources
Admitted Patient Care
Non-Admitted Patient Care
A copy of the latest publications can be found on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website.
AIHW is also sponsor to the My Hospitals website which compares the performance information of public and private hospitals across Australia.
The website allows users to compare different hospitals against indicators such as waiting times in emergency departments or for some types of surgery, rates of bloodstream infections acquired in hospital, the length of time patients spend in hospital after being admitted for various conditions or procedures, as well as a number of other indicators.
Safety and Quality of Hospital Services
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) leads and coordinates national improvements in safety and quality in health care across Australia.
The Commission publish the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation which uses data from a range of national data sources to explore variation across different healthcare settings. The latest Atlas released in June 2017, examines four clinical themes:
chronic disease and infection – potentially preventable hospitalisations;
cardiovascular;
women’s health and maternity; and
surgical interventions.
The Commission have also developed, and are responsible for maintaining a series of key indicators of Safety and Quality in Australian hospitals. This includes:
the Australian Sentinel events list; and
Hospital Acquired Complications.
These indicators of Safety and Quality have been incorporated as part of the reforms introduced in the Addendum to the NHRA which is available from the Council on Federal Financial Relations website which commenced 1 July 2017. These reforms are aimed at improving overall health outcomes and reducing instances of poor quality or unsafe care.
