NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM ACT 2011

Table of Provisions

• Long Title
 

CHAPTER 1--Preliminary

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Object  
• 4 Simplified outline  
• 5 Definitions  
• 6 Vacancies  
• 7 Crown to be bound  
 

CHAPTER 2--Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

PART 2.1----INTRODUCTION

• 7A Simplified outline  

PART 2.2----COMMISSION'S ESTABLISHMENT, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

• 8 Establishment of the Commission  
• 9 Functions of the Commission  
• 10 Additional provisions about standards, guidelines and indicators  
• 11 Additional provisions about model national accreditation schemes  
• 12 Constitutional limits  
• 13 Powers of the Commission  
• 14 Charging of fees  
• 15 Commission has privileges and immunities of the Crown  
• 16 Ministerial directions  

PART 2.3----THE COMMISSION BOARD

Division 1--Establishment and role of the Commission Board

• 17 Establishment  
• 18 Role  

Division 2--Members of the Commission Board

• 19 Membership  
• 20 Appointment of Commission Board members  
• 21 Period of appointment for Commission Board members  
• 22 Acting Commission Board members  
• 23 Remuneration  
• 24 Leave of absence  
• 25 Resignation  
• 26 Termination of appointment  
• 27 Other terms and conditions  

Division 3--Procedures of the Commission Board

• 28 Convening of meetings  
• 29 Presiding at meetings  
• 30 Quorum  
• 31 Voting at meetings  
• 32 Decisions without meetings  
• 33 Conduct of meetings  
• 34 Minutes  

Division 4--Delegation by the Commission Board

• 35 Delegation by the Commission Board  

PART 2.4----CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STAFF AND CONSULTANTS

Division 1--Chief Executive Officer of the Commission

• 36 Establishment  
• 37 Role  
• 38 Appointment  
• 39 Acting appointments  
• 40 Outside employment  
• 41 Remuneration  
• 42 Leave  
• 43 Disclosure of interests  
• 44 Resignation  
• 45 Termination of appointment  
• 46 Other terms and conditions  

Division 2--Staff and consultants

• 47 Staff  
• 48 Persons assisting the Commission  
• 49 Consultants  

PART 2.5----COMMITTEES

• 50 Committees  
• 51 Remuneration and allowances  

PART 2.6----REPORTING AND PLANNING OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMMISSION

• 52 Publishing reports and documents about performance of Commission's function  
• 53 Annual report  
• 54 Work plan  
• 54AA Corporate plan  

PART 2.7----SECRECY

• 54A Secrecy  
• 54B Disclosure or use for the purposes of this Act  
• 54C Disclosure to committee  
• 54D Disclosure to the Minister  
• 54E Disclosure to the Treasurer  
• 54F Disclosure to the Secretary etc.  
• 54G Disclosure to a Royal Commission  
• 54H Disclosure to certain agencies, bodies or persons  
• 54J Disclosure to researchers  
• 54K Disclosure with consent  
• 54L Disclosure of publicly available information  
• 54M Delegation  

PART 2.8----OTHER MATTERS

• 55 Commission CEO not subject to direction by the Commission Board on certain matters  
• 56 Taxation  
• 57 Compliance with standards and guidelines  
 

CHAPTER 4--Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

PART 4.1----INTRODUCTION

• 128 Simplified outline  

PART 4.2----PRICING AUTHORITY'S ESTABLISHMENT, FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND LIABILITIES

• 129 Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority  
• 130 Object of the Pricing Authority  
• 131 Functions of the Pricing Authority--public hospitals and health care pricing and costing  
• 131A Functions of the Pricing Authority--aged care  
• 132 Intergovernmental agreements  
• 133 Policy principles--COAG  
• 134 Constitutional limits  
• 135 Powers of the Pricing Authority  
• 137 Pricing Authority has privileges and immunities of the Crown  

PART 4.3----COST-SHIFTING DISPUTES AND CROSS-BORDER DISPUTES

• 138 Cost - shifting disputes and cross - border disputes  
• 139 Assessment by Pricing Authority of cost - shifting disputes  
• 140 Recommendations by Pricing Authority on cross - border disputes  
• 141 Advice to Commonwealth to adjust funding  

PART 4.4----CONSTITUTION AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE PRICING AUTHORITY

• 142 Constitution of the Pricing Authority  
• 143 Membership of the Pricing Authority  
• 144 Appointment of members of the Pricing Authority  
• 145 Period of appointment for members of the Pricing Authority  
• 146 Acting members of the Pricing Authority  

PART 4.5----TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRICING AUTHORITY

• 147 Remuneration  
• 148 Disclosure of interests  
• 150 Leave of absence  
• 151 Resignation  
• 152 Termination of appointment  
• 153 Other terms and conditions  

PART 4.6----DECISION-MAKING BY THE PRICING AUTHORITY

• 154 Holding of meetings  
• 155 Presiding at meetings  
• 156 Quorum  
• 157 Voting at meetings etc.  
• 158 Decisions without meetings  
• 159 Conduct of meetings  
• 160 Minutes  

PART 4.7----DELEGATION BY THE PRICING AUTHORITY

• 161 Delegation by the Pricing Authority  

PART 4.8----CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PRICING AUTHORITY

• 162 Establishment  
• 163 Role  
• 164 Appointment  
• 165 Acting appointments  
• 166 Outside employment  
• 167 Remuneration  
• 168 Leave  
• 169 Disclosure of interests  
• 170 Resignation  
• 171 Termination of appointment  
• 172 Other terms and conditions  

PART 4.9----STAFF AND CONSULTANTS

• 173 Staff  
• 174 Persons assisting the Pricing Authority  
• 175 Consultants  

PART 4.10----CLINICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Division 1--Establishment and functions of the Clinical Advisory Committee

• 176 Establishment of the Clinical Advisory Committee  
• 177 Functions of the Clinical Advisory Committee  

Division 2--Membership of the Clinical Advisory Committee

• 178 Membership of the Clinical Advisory Committee  
• 179 Appointment of Clinical Advisory Committee members  
• 180 Period of appointment for Clinical Advisory Committee members  
• 181 Acting Clinical Advisory Committee members  
• 182 Procedures  
• 183 Disclosure of interests to the Minister and the Pricing Authority  
• 184 Disclosure of interests to Clinical Advisory Committee  
• 185 Outside employment  
• 186 Remuneration and allowances  
• 187 Leave of absence  
• 188 Resignation  
• 189 Termination of appointment  
• 190 Other terms and conditions  

Division 3--Subcommittees

• 191 Subcommittees  
• 192 Remuneration and allowances  

Division 4--Annual report

• 193 Annual report  

Division 5--Pricing Authority may assist the Clinical Advisory Committee and its subcommittees

• 194 Pricing Authority may assist the Clinical Advisory Committee and its subcommittees  

PART 4.11----JURISDICTIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• 195 Establishment of the Jurisdictional Advisory Committee  
• 196 Functions of the Jurisdictional Advisory Committee  
• 197 Membership of the Jurisdictional Advisory Committee  
• 198 Appointment of Jurisdictional Advisory Committee members  
• 199 Substitute members  
• 200 Termination of appointment  
• 201 Application of the Remuneration Tribunal Act  
• 202 Procedures  
• 203 Disclosure of interests to Jurisdictional Advisory Committee  
• 204 Pricing Authority may assist the Jurisdictional Advisory Committee  

PART 4.11A----AGED CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Division 1--Establishment and functions of the Aged Care Advisory Committee

• 204A Establishment of the Aged Care Advisory Committee  
• 204B Functions of the Aged Care Advisory Committee  

Division 2--Membership of the Aged Care Advisory Committee

• 204C Membership of the Aged Care Advisory Committee  
• 204D Appointment of members of the Aged Care Advisory Committee  
• 204E Acting appointments  
• 204F Remuneration  
• 204G Disclosure of interests to the Minister and Pricing Authority  
• 204H Disclosure of interests to the Aged Care Advisory Committee  
• 204J Leave of absence  
• 204K Resignation  
• 204L Termination of appointment  
• 204M Other terms and conditions  

Division 3--Decision-making by the Aged Care Advisory Committee

• 204N Holding of meetings  
• 204P Presiding at meetings  
• 204Q Quorum  
• 204R Voting at meetings etc.  
• 204S Decisions without meetings  
• 204T Conduct of meetings  
• 204U Minutes  

Division 4--Subcommittees

• 204V Subcommittees  
• 204W Remuneration and allowances  

Division 5--Annual report

• 204X Annual report  

Division 6--Pricing Authority may assist the Aged Care Advisory Committee and its subcommittees

• 204Y Pricing Authority may assist the Aged Care Advisory Committee and its subcommittees  

PART 4.12----OTHER COMMITTEES

• 205 Committees  
• 206 Remuneration and allowances  
• 207 Pricing Authority may assist committees  

PART 4.13----REPORTING AND PLANNING

Division 1--Requirements for functions in relation to hospitals

• 208 Minister or State/Territory Health Minister may require the Pricing Authority to prepare reports or give information  
• 209 Keeping the Standing Council on Health informed  
• 210 Reporting to Parliament  
• 211 Minister and State/Territory Health Ministers comment before public reports  

Division 2--Requirements for functions in relation to health care pricing and costing

• 211A Minister may require the Pricing Authority to prepare reports in relation to health care pricing and costing functions  
• 211B Reporting to Parliament  

Division 3--Requirements for functions in relation to aged care

• 211C Relevant Commonwealth Minister may require the Pricing Authority to prepare reports in relation to aged care functions  
• 211D Reporting to Parliament  

Division 4--Other matters

• 212 Corporate plan  

PART 4.13A----FINANCE

• 212A Money payable to the Pricing Authority  
• 212B Application of money by the Pricing Authority  
• 212C Taxation  

PART 4.14----SECRECY

• 213 Secrecy  
• 214 Disclosure or use for the purposes of this Act  
• 215 Disclosure to committees--general  
• 215A Disclosure to committees--aged care information  
• 216 Disclosure to the Minister  
• 216A Disclosure to Aged Care Minister  
• 217 Disclosure to a State/Territory Health Minister  
• 218 Disclosure to the Secretary etc.  
• 219 Disclosure to a Royal Commission  
• 220 Disclosure to certain agencies, bodies or persons--general  
• 220A Disclosure to relevant bodies or persons--health care pricing and costing information and aged care information  
• 221 Disclosure to researchers  
• 222 Disclosure with consent  
• 223 Disclosure of publicly available information  
• 224 Delegation  

PART 4.15----OTHER MATTERS

• 225 Consultation on the Pricing Authority's work program  
• 226 Minister may give directions to the Pricing Authority--functions in relation to hospitals  
• 226A Minister may give directions to the Pricing Authority--other functions  
• 227 Pricing Authority CEO not subject to direction by the Pricing Authority on certain matters  
 

CHAPTER 5--Administrator of the Funding Pool

PART 5.1----INTRODUCTION

• 228 Simplified outline  
• 229 Interpreting Part 5.2  
• 230 Standing Council on Health  

PART 5.2----ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH FUNDING POOL

Division 1--Establishment and functions

• 231 The office of Administrator  
• 232 Appointment of Administrator  
• 233 Remuneration  
• 234 Suspension of Administrator  
• 235 Removal or resignation of Administrator  
• 236 Acting Administrator  
• 237 Provision of staff and facilities for Administrator  
• 238 Functions of Administrator  

Division 2--Financial management and reporting

• 239 Financial management obligations of Administrator  
• 240 Monthly reports by Administrator  
• 241 Annual report by Administrator  
• 242 Administrator to prepare financial statements for State Pool Accounts  
• 243 Audit of financial statements  
• 244 Performance audits  
• 245 Provision of information generally  
• 246 Format and content of reports and statements  

Division 3--Provisions relating to the functions of the Administrator

• 247 Constitutional limits  
• 248 State laws may confer functions and powers  
• 249 How duty is imposed by State laws  
• 250 When State laws impose a duty on Funding Body or officer  

PART 5.3----NATIONAL HEALTH FUNDING BODY

Division 1--Establishment

• 251 National Health Funding Body  
• 252 Function  

Division 2--Chief Executive Officer of the Funding Body

• 253 Establishment  
• 254 Role  
• 255 Appointment  
• 256 Acting appointments  
• 257 Outside employment  
• 258 Remuneration and allowances  
• 259 Leave of absence  
• 260 Disclosure of interests  
• 261 Resignation  
• 262 Termination of appointment  
• 263 Other terms and conditions  

Division 3--Staff, consultants etc.

• 264 Staff  
• 265 Persons assisting the Funding Body  
• 266 Consultants  

Division 4--Reporting and planning

• 267 Annual report  
• 267A Corporate plan  

PART 5.4----SECRECY

Division 1--The Administrator

• 268 Secrecy  

Division 2--Funding Body officials

• 269 Secrecy  
• 270 Disclosure or use for the purposes of this Act  
• 271 Disclosure to the Minister  
• 272 Disclosure to a State/Territory Health Minister  
• 273 Disclosure to the Secretary etc.  
• 274 Disclosure to a Royal Commission  
• 275 Disclosure to certain agencies, bodies or persons  
• 276 Disclosure to researchers  
• 277 Disclosure with consent  
• 278 Disclosure of publicly available information  
 

CHAPTER 6--Miscellaneous

• 279 Protection of patient confidentiality  
• 280 Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws etc.  
• 282 Regulations