Catholic Health Australia – Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2026-27 Submission

Executive summary

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) is the nation’s largest non-government provider of health, aged, and community care services. Its members deliver more than 15 per cent of all hospitalbased care in Australia, operating hospitals in every state and the Australian Capital Territory. They provide around 30 per cent of private hospital care, 5 per cent of public hospital care, and a wide range of community and residential aged care services. Catholic hospital providers have a vital interest in working with the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority(IHACPA) to ensure the sustainable provision of health care services for all Australians to meet community expectations of safe and quality care.

CHA appreciates the opportunity to provide input into the consultation on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2026–2027 (Pricing Framework). We look forward to working with IHACPA during the consultation process to ensure the Pricing Framework achieves its intended outcomes. Our goal is to ensure it fully supports a highquality and safe hospital system for all Australians irrespective of their wealth or geography.

Overall, CHA welcomes the progress IHACPA has made in highlighting key issues through the Consultation Paper and is encouraged by the depth of stakeholder engagement to date.This submission focuses on key questions raised in the Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2026–2027 and is not an exhaustive response to each issue raised in the Consultation Paper.