Every five years over the past 15 years, the Commonwealth, States and Territories have negotiated healthcare agreements, and new agreements are about to be signed for the next five-year period (2003–2008). The Australian Health Care Agreements (AHCAs), which are negotiated bilaterally with each State, provide Commonwealth monies to the States in exchange for ensuring the States continue to provide free hospital care.
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- 1 Policy and Practice Program, Institute for International Health, Newtown, NSW.
- 2
- 1. Joint Statement from Commonwealth, State and Territory Health Ministers. Australian Health Care Agreements (AHCA), 2003-2008, 2002 (available from the NSW Health Minister's office, Level 33, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000).
- 2. Australian Health Care Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales, 1998. <http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/a/pdf/australian000000.pdf>
- 3. Development of 2003-2008 Australian Health Care Agreements. Terms of Reference for AHCA Reference Group Process. Attachment C, 2002 (available from the NSW Department of Health, LMB 961, North Sydney, NSW 2059).