Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2011A00139:clause:1_131:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2011A00139
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 1 cl 131 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 10919–13770

131  Functions of the Pricing Authority
 (1) The Pricing Authority has the following functions:
 (a) to determine the national efficient price for health care services provided by public hospitals where the services are funded on an activity basis;
 (b) to determine the efficient cost for health care services provided by public hospitals where the services are block funded;
 (c) to develop and specify classification systems for health care and other services provided by public hospitals;
 (d) to determine adjustments to the national efficient price to reflect legitimate and unavoidable variations in the costs of delivering health care services;
 (e) to determine data requirements and data standards to apply in relation to data to be provided by States and Territories, including:
 (i) data and coding standards to support uniform provision of data; and
 (ii) requirements and standards relating to patient demographic characteristics and other information relevant to classifying, costing and paying for public hospital functions;
 (f) except where otherwise agreed between the Commonwealth and a State or Territory—to determine the public hospital functions that are to be funded in the State or Territory by the Commonwealth;
 (g) to publish a report setting out the national efficient price for the coming year and any other information that would support the efficient funding of public hospitals;
 (h) to advise the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories in relation to funding models for hospitals;
 (i) to provide confidential advice to the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories in relation to the costs of providing health care services in the future;
 (j) such functions as are conferred on the Pricing Authority by Part 4.3 of this Act (cost‑shifting disputes and cross‑border disputes);
 (k) to publish (whether on the internet or otherwise) reports and papers relating to its functions;
 (l) to call for and accept, on an annual basis, public submissions in relation to the functions set out in paragraphs (a) to (f);
 (m) such functions (if any) as are specified in a written instrument given by the Minister to the Chair of the Pricing Authority with the agreement of COAG;
 (n) to do anything incidental to or conducive to the performance of any of the above functions.
 (2) COAG is to give its agreement for the purposes of paragraph (1)(m) by a written resolution of COAG passed in accordance with the procedures determined by COAG.
 (3) In performing its functions, the Pricing Authority must have regard to the following:
 (a) relevant expertise and best practice within Australia and internationally;
 (b) submissions made at any time by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;
 (c) the need to ensure:
 (i) reasonable access to health care services; and
 (ii) safety and quality in the provision of health