BUSM 3014 Health Services Financial Management
Credit Points 10
Legacy Code 400279
Coordinator Stewart Alford Opens in new window
Description The Australian health care system must account for use of resources, and ensure their equitable and efficient use. Increasingly devolution of management function to cost centre level in health care organisations is occurring. Managers must consider the financial implications of clinical decisions, understand and act on accounting information. They are held responsible for the financial outcomes of their activities. This unit develops a basic knowledge of accounting principles, health services funding arrangements, government reforms, financial reporting, preparation of budgets, business cases and economic appraisals. There are 140 hours of placement in the field working with health managers on financial issues.
School Health Sciences
Discipline Public and Health Care Administration
Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp
Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.
Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject
Pre-requisite(s) BUSM 3015
Restrictions Students must be enrolled in 4545 or 4656 Bachelor of Health Science or 6000 Diploma in Health Science/Bachelor of Health Science
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate health funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the States, cost shifting and the need for reform.
- Examine the mechanisms used by NSW Health to distribute funds to areas and regions.
- Explain accounting concepts and terms, how financial events are recorded and reported in health services accounting systems.
- Critically interpret the various reports produced by the accounting information systems in health services.
- Critically interpret a health cost centre report and plan ways to come in on budget.
- Develop a budget and business case for a project.
- Articulate financial management issues such as capital charging, accounting for capital assets, costing of contracted services, etc., as it relates to health services.
Subject Content
- Commonwealth fiscal responsibilities, funding arrangements and health role.
- The accounting cycle: Commonwealth and state budget.
- state health role and episode funding.
- policy Initiatives and opportunities for reform.
- health accounting information systems.
- Basic accounting concepts and terms.
- general purpose and SP&t accounts.
- financial accounting in health.
- health financial Reporting including annual reports.
- management accounting and how financial events are reported in health services.
- key performance indicators and cost centre report interpretation.
- budget and health business case preparation.
- how to Evaluate financial position with performance ratios eg Contract services or purchase, profit, loss and return on investments.
- accounting for capital Assets eg The PFI and capital charging.
- how to conduct An economic appraisal of A new development.
Special Requirements
Legislative pre-requisites
NOTE: Due to Covid Restrictions, the First Aid Requirement is currently not needed.
Special Requirements - NSW Health Legislative Prerequisites
Student Compliance Information for all Health-Related Placements
Prior to enrolling in this subject, students must have submitted a Student Undertaking Form and undertake to apply for a National Police Check, which is required to be submitted before placement, and a Working with Children Check Student Declaration. Use the link to the Special Requirements webpage below for more information.
To be eligible to enrol in this subject and complete any required health-related placements or experiences, students must meet Western Sydney University program requirements as well as any special, legislated, or policy-mandated requirements.
Western Program Requirements
Visit the Special Requirements webpage for details about your program.
Mandatory NSW Health student placement policy requirements
To be able to undertake placement in any NSW Health facility you must be assessed as compliant with NSW Health student placement policy in the first year of your program, regardless of when you expect to go on your first placement. Access and read the NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet.
NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet
Please ensure that you
- Find your existing National Police Check or apply for one
- Gather documentary evidence of your vaccination history
- Print and compete all relevant NSW Health forms relevant to the campus you are enrolled at or online enrolment requirements
- Follow booklet instructions on how to have your compliance documents assessed by NSW health staff.
International students have additional requirements; the link to the booklet will inform you of these requirements.
School Requirements
Contact your School for further details regarding your School’s requirements, if any, such as
- If you live outside of NSW or Australia and need to meet your state, territory or country’s compliance requirements
- If you need to meet different state, territory or country compliance requirements.
- NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) or other state equivalent, valid for your entire program.
- Current approved first aid certificate valid for your entire program - approved program providers can be found at the Government Training website
- http://training.gov.au
- Other non-health related requirements.
Student Compliance Resources are also available on the Placements Hub web page (NSW students only)
Assessment
The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.
| Item | Length | Percent | Threshold | Individual/Group Task |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Presentation - Group Presentation | 10 minutes each member and 2 page handout | 25 | N | Group |
| Grant Application or Business Case - Written Report | 2,000 words | 25 | N | Individual |
| Weekly Questions - Written Answers | 2,500 words | 50 | N | Individual |
| Satisfactory Completion of Placement - Placement Activity | 20 days/140 hours | S/U | Y | Individual |
Teaching Periods
Sydney City Campus - Term 2
Sydney City
Day
Subject Contact Andrey Zheluk Opens in new window
View timetable Opens in new window
Spring
Campbelltown
Day
Subject Contact Stewart Alford Opens in new window