From 17 March to 20 April 2026, we held our public consultation on the draft IHACPA Work Program 2026–27.

We received 13 submissions from a range of stakeholders, including from across government, state and territory health departments, public hospitals, and aged care. The consultation covered several key areas.

Public hospitals

• Starting multi-year reviews into the costs and pricing of care for First Nations peoples and for services delivered in rural and remote areas and smaller jurisdictions
• Implementing recommendations from the Cost Bucket Review and the National Hospital Cost Data Collection Independent Financial Review 2023–24
• Undertaking a project to understand the cost of delivering radiation oncology services

Aged care

• Completing a feasibility study and providing advice to inform Australian Government decisions on funding for required everyday living services
• Assessing the funding model and providing advice to the Australian Government on the Multi-Purpose Services Program and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
• Working with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to refine the Aged Care Financial Report and the Quarterly Financial Report

We have released the IHACPA Work Program 2026–27 following public consultation.

From 10 July to 22 August 2025, we held a public consultation on the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2026–27.

We received 47 submissions from peak bodies, residential aged care providers, government departments, carers and families, the aged care workforce, and members of the public.

We also completed 45 interviews with providers of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) and the Multi-Purpose Service Program (MPSP).

Key highlights include:

• support for improving provider participation in cost collections through culturally appropriate engagement and expanded promotion
• suggestions for MPSP funding model assessments to consider resident activity cost drivers, operational and workforce costs, and location-specific costs in thin markets
• recommendations for assessment of the NATSIFACP funding model to consider the costs of providing culturally safe care, and the operational and workforce challenges experienced by providers in very remote locations
• suggestions for adjustments to existing supplements to better support the delivery of care to residents with complex or specialised care needs
• requests for location, building design, workforce shortages and regulatory requirements to be factored into the cost of delivering everyday living services.

We released the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2026–27 following public consultation.

The pricing framework is accompanied by the consultation report, which captures a summary of feedback received.

From 14 May to 13 June 2025, we held our public consultation on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2026–27.

We received 30 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders. This included state and territory governments, professional health organisations and the private health sector.

The consultation covered several key areas, including:

• pricing admitted acute care using Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups Version 12.0 for the National Efficient Price Determination 2026–27 (NEP26)
• refining the Tier 2 Non-Admitted Services Classification for NEP26 and introducing Tier 2 classes for hospital based non-admitted voluntary assisted dying services
• phasing out the coronavirus disease 2019 temporary measures for NEP26
• reviewing the block funding criteria that underpin the national efficient cost determination and the current approach for funding high cost, highly specialised therapies
• refining pricing adjustments, including for intensive care unit patients, First Nations peoples, and individuals residing in smaller jurisdictions or rural and remote areas of Australia
• exploring risk factors for inclusion in the hospital acquired complications and avoidable hospital readmissions risk adjustment models.

We have released the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2026–27 following public consultation.

The pricing framework is accompanied by the consultation report, which captures a summary of feedback received and IHACPA’s response.