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Purchasing and Resource Allocation

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Policy framework statement

The Purchasing and Resource Allocation Policy Framework specifies the financial and legislative framework that all Health Service Providers (HSPs) must comply with in order to ensure effective and consistent approaches to meet State Government budgeting and funding procedures and requirements, and purchasing and resource allocation processes, across the WA health system.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy framework is to ensure:

  • Compliance with the mandatory financial and legislative requirements that underpins the State Government’s budgeting and funding procedures under the Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000 and the Financial Management Act 2006.
  • Clarity of mandatory roles and responsibilities of the DG of the Department of Health as System Manager, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) as purchaser and the HSPs in the context of purchasing and resource allocation.
  • Required information to be provided to the System Manager from HSPs is clearly defined to ensure compliance with:
    • State Government budgeting and funding processes
    • Activity Based Management (ABM) requirements including the counting and classification processes for the admission, readmission, discharge and transfer of patients
    • Australian Government funding submission requirements including to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Administrator of the National Health Funding Pool and Independent Hospital Pricing Authority
    • Development of benchmarking standards for public-private providers.
  • The fee schedule and procedures for Visiting Medical Practitioners working across the WA health system is outlined.
  • Explanation is provided of key systemwide budget, purchasing and resource allocation processes including budget and activity settings and the development of service agreements. 

Applicability

This policy framework is binding on each HSP to which it applies or relates.

Principles

The key principles that underpin this policy framework are:

Accountability
The use of financial resources, decisions and actions must be available and able to be communicated to external reviewers.

Financial Sustainability
Financial management decisions must not compromise long-term financial sustainability.

Stewardship
The use of financial resources responsibly, for the purposes that they have been provided, with adequate planning, control and consideration of risks.

Transparency
The management of financial resources must be documented and reported, in a clear, consistent and accurate manner.

Legislative context

This policy framework is made pursuant to ss 26(2)(a)(c)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.

The Health Services Act 2016 refers to policy frameworks in ss. 26-27 and s. 34(2)(c). Other relevant parts in the Act that relate specifically to this policy framework include s. 34(2)(b) and Part 5.

The legislation below, may also apply: 
  • Financial Management Act 2006  
  • Government Financial Responsibility Act 2000  
  • National Health Reform Act 2011

Mandatory requirements

Under this policy framework HSPs must comply with all mandatory requirements* including:

Policy framework custodian

Assistant Director General
Purchasing and System Performance Division

Enquiries relating to this Policy Framework may be directed to: PolicyFrameworkSupport@health.wa.gov.au


Review

This policy framework will be reviewed as required to ensure relevance and recency. At a minimum this policy framework will be reviewed within two years after first issue and at least every three years thereafter.

Version Effective from Amendment(s)
9.  26 March 2024 Rescindment of MP 0085/18 Road Based Inter Hospital Transport Services Policy on 26 March 2024. The rationale of the policy rescindment is the outdated information contained in the Policy and contemporary requirements for Health Service Providers (HSPs) are outlined in the resource 'Buyers Guide for Inter Hospital Patient Transport' which is captured on HealthPoint.  The existence of the legally binding HSPs contract and related contractual requirements within the Policy remove the need for a mandatory policy. 
8 27 October 2021
 Minor Amendments to Purchasing and Resource Allocation Policy Framework Landing Page. Removed Service Activity Amendment Framework 2015 2016 link to Mandatory Requirements. Removed lines and links to Supporting Information. Inserted new Supporting Information - 2020-2025 National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA), Service Agreements and Deeds of Amendment (Abridged) and Government of WA, Department of Treasury Financial Administration Bookcase. 
7 12 July 2021
 Major Amendment MP 0085/18 Road Based Inter Hospital Patient Transport Services Policy. Policy transitioned to the current Policy template, definition for medium Acuity amended to clarify criteria and update to Policy contact.
6 30 June 2021
 Rescindment of OD 0494/14, OD 0495/14, OD 0496/14, OD 0497/14, OD 0498/14, OD 0499/14, OD 0525/14.
5 27 August 2020
 Rescinded OD 0201/09 from Mandatory Requirements.
4 18 October 2018
 Rescinded OD 0450/13 from Mandatory Requirements.
3 6 June 2018
 New MP 0085/18 Road Based Inter Hospital Patient Transport Services Policy, supersedes OD 0614/15 (OD was not allocated to a Policy framework).
2 1 July 2017
 Rescinded OD 0540/14 from Mandatory Requirements, superseded by MP 0058/17 Admission, Readmission, Discharge and Transfer Policy (under Information Management Policy Framework)
1 1 July 2016 Original version

Approval

This policy framework has been approved and issued by the Director General of the Department of Health as the System Manager.

Approval byDr D J Russell-Weisz, Director General, Department of Health
Approval date01 July 2016
Date published18 October 2018
File numberF-AA-40156

Compliance

This policy framework is binding on those to whom it applies or relates. Implementation at a local level will be subject to audit.

Glossary of terms

Term Meaning
Applicability Under Section 26 of the Health Services Act 2016, policy frameworks may apply to:
  • All Health Service Providers
  • A type of public health service facility
  • A type of public health service
  • A type of staff member of a health service provider.
Health Service Provider Means a Health Service Provider established by an order made under section 32(1)(b) of the Health Services Act 2016.
WA health system Pursuant to section 19(1) of the Health Services Act 2016, means the Department of Health, Health Service Providers and to the extent that Contracted Health Entities provide health services to the State, the Contracted Health Entities.
wa.gov.au