Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401362

Coordinator Krista Cockrell Opens in new window

Description This unit provides health leaders with an introduction to financial management in both public and private sector health services. The learning from this unit forms a basis for understanding the impact of leadership decision-making on financial outcomes and how financial decision-making impacts on clinical service delivery. The development of different approaches to funding to address issues of effectiveness, efficiency and acceptability (including equity) are examined. Pressures for reform are linked to developments at various levels of management and organisation type to enable analysis of potential impacts on clinical delivery. Students will critically analyse the relationship between performance and principles of governance, focusing on developing an improvement in the quality of service delivery. Reflective practice will be used to facilitate the application of resource management and clinical governance to a self-identified workplace issue warranting a clinical governance business case.

School Health Sciences

Discipline Health, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Co-requisite(s) PUBH 7031

Equivalent Subjects HLTH 7005 Health Financial Management

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate program

Assumed Knowledge

Competent use of Microsoft Excel, and high school mathematics (arithmetic, formulas and algebra, reading graphs).

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Critically analyse funding arrangements used internationally in comparison to those used within the Australian Healthcare system
2. Examine recent reforms in funding, including government funding, non-government funding and user pays in the Australian and international context.
3. Translate key health financial principles and language into practice.
4. Create a budget with consideration to financial risks from a zero-base for a proposed health service.
5. Analyse budget variances and evaluate options to mitigate financial risks.

Subject Content

1.International comparison of healthcare systems
2.Budgeting for health
3.The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
4.Medicare and the role of private healthcare in Australia
5.Accounting and budgeting principles
6.Casemix and DRGs
7.The State Budget
8.Healthcare Agreements and Planning
9.The Private Public Partnership and Capital Charging
10.Cost-benefit analysis of capital projects in healthcare
11.Financial Risks in Healthcare