Victoria - Public Hospitals Policy and Funding Guidelines 1997-1998

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Section A: Policy

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4.4 Radiation Oncology

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A system for defining and measuring non admitted radiation oncology services for four hospitals: Alfred Health Care Group, Geelong Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute and Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre has been developed with the assistance of these hospitals. In 1997-98 a standard payment rate will be introduced for key components of radiation oncology services, with additional payments for associated services. Revenue arrangements already in place will continue.

The funding model includes two key components:

• Payment at a unit rate, based on Weighted Radiation Therapy Services (WRTS) targets. WRTS include megavoltage courses, planning procedures (dosimetry and simulation) and consultations.
• Specified payments for specialised treatments, lower volume services such as X-rays, allied health services which support radiation therapy patients, training and development and other support services.

Data reporting requirements commenced in 1996-97 and will be continued over 1997-98. Relative resource weights and the unit price for radiation therapy services were derived using the average cost across all hospitals for the various services. This unit price includes salaries, expenses and overhead costs.

A range of targets will be set to include the number of megavoltage fields, megavoltage courses, dosimetry and simulation courses and consultations. These targets and the level of growth to be funded are being finalised.

To: Top of Section 4 Non-Admitted Patients and Emergency Services Funding

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