Fees and charges for healthcare services

Directive number: QH-HSD-045:2016

Effective date: 07 June 2021

Review date: 07 June 2024

Supersedes: Version 4

On this page:

Fees and charges (XLSX 1297 kB)

Purpose

The purpose of this Health Service Directive is to ensure consistent application of fees and charges for health care services across the public health system in Queensland.

Scope

This Health Service Directive applies to all Hospital and Health Services.

Principles

  • Consistency: Fees and charges contained in the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register are applied consistently across all Hospital and Health Services.
  • Transparency: Fees and charges are applied across all Hospital and Health Services in a transparent way, including transparency to the public.

Outcomes

Hospital and Health Services shall achieve the following outcomes:

  • Compliance with the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register.

Mandatory requirements

In applying the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register, Hospital and Health Services must:

  • ensure Service Fees for Granted Private Practice Retention Arrangements are levied in accordance with those contained within the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register.
  • ensure all other fees raised do not exceed amounts contained in the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register.
  • Ensure there are no costs directly charged to Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers for public health services. Costs should be indirectly recovered from a third party (such as the International Health and Medical Services and Status Resolution Support Service Providers – Red Cross, Access Community Services and MDA), with the service provider arranging this.
  • Note: the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register does not apply to Medical Officers’ Licensed Private Practice arrangements. Hospital and Health Services will ensure appropriate fees and charges are levied on Medical Officers’ Licensed Private Practice arrangements.
  • Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (Qld)
    • Section 20 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act provides Hospital and Health Services with the power to charge for service they provide.
  • Financial Accountability Act 2009
  • Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019
  • National Health Reform Agreement
  • Queensland Government – Principles for Fees and Charges (January 2020)
  • Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules (Cwth)
  • Hospital Services Arrangement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and the State of Queensland
  • Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance Hospital and Emergency Service Levy Confirmation

Supporting documents

Business area contact

  • Director, Revenue Strategy and Support Unit, Corporate Services Division

Review

This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three years.

Date of last review: June 2021

Supersedes: Version 4

Approval and implementation

Directive Custodian

Chief Finance Officer, Finance Branch, Corporate Services Division

Approval by Chief Executive

Director-General, Queensland Health

Approval date: 31 May 2021

Issued under section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

Definitions of terms used in this directive

Term Definition / explanation / detailsSource
Fees and Charges Fees and Charges are payable by patients accessing private, compensable and ineligible services provided by Queensland public hospitals. Fees and Charges are also payable for administrative services for example Right to Information applications and requests for clinical records and services utilised by doctors under private practice. Revenue Strategy and Support Unit.
Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers For further information on Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers refer to the Queensland Health information sheet on refugees, asylum seekers and detainees available at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/groups/multicultural/refugee-services Strategic Policy Unit

Version control

VersionDate Prepared byComments
1.0 July 2014 Finance Branch  
2.0 August 2015 Revenue Strategy and Support Unit, Finance Branch The following changes were made:
  • ‘Mandatory requirements’ section information in relations to  Licenced Private Practice arrangements added
  • ‘Definition of terms used in the directive’ section old  terminology ‘Freedom of Information’ replaced by ‘Right to Information’
3.0 March 2016 Revenue Strategy and Support Unit, Finance Branch Reviewed Document
4.0 August 2017 Legislative Policy Unit, Strategic Policy and Legislation Branch Amended document – under the ‘mandatory requirements’ the following was added:
  • Ensure Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers are provided access to  public health services with no costs charged directly to the patient.
5.0 June 2021 Revenue Strategy and Support Unit, Finance Branch Reviewed document with minor changes, including: “DRG 7” was deleted from “Acute Inpatient Cost Calculator” in “Supporting documents” section as the DRG version changes within the HSD validity.

Last updated: 20 March 2023