Dear Auckland District Health Board,

I write seeking the following information relating to the Clinical Coding Department of Auckland District Health Board.

1. What is the annual budget for the Clinical Coding department of Auckland DHB from 2010 to 2019?
2. From the commencement of Accelerated Coding Course (ACE) - How many clinical coders in total were trained through ADHB to work for ADHB?
3. How many of these trainees were retained by ADHB and what amount in total has been spent on this training till 31st of March 2019?
4. Currently, how many fulltime clinical coders in total comprise the ADHB team?
5. Of these, how may clinical coders are level 2, 3, 4 and 5?
6. Since 2010 how many level 4 and 5 clinical coders have left ADHB?
7. Has Clinical Coding work been contracted out of Auckland DHB?
If yes, then:
8. Was there a tender process for awarding the contracts?
9. How many companies were shortlisted?
10. Till 30th of April 2019, what was the amount paid for the Clinical Coding contracts by ADHB?
11. Do any full time permanent Clinical Coding department staff currently have or have had in the past any involvement or relationship with the successful company or companies?
12. Is there a conflict of interest of any full time permanent staff of the Clinical Coding Department ( in any capacity) and the contracting company or companies? If yes, was the conflict of interest declared?
13. Have any full time staff ( in any capacity) from the ADHB Clinical Coding Department solicited for any company or companies who have been awarded the clinical coding contracts?
14. Are the contracted coding company or companies and any of their coders based overseas? If yes, then:
15. From which countries outside of New Zealand have the contract coders accessed NZ patients' medical records and documents?
16. How does ADHB protect the privacy & confidentiality of patient records, information & data when accessed by clinical coders outside of New Zealand?

Yours faithfully,

Claudia

Dear Elaine Keenan (ADHB),

Clarification _ "Re - Official Information Request - Starship Child Abuse figures" - This is not my request ( which was mentioned in response I have received)

Revised Request
Clinical Coding Contracts and Patient informaton privacy & confidentiality.

1. Has Clinical coding work been contracted out of Auckland DHB?
2. IF YES - Was there a tender process for awarding contracts? Is there any undeclared conflicht of interest between any Clinical Coding department team member and the successful company/companies?
3. Are the contract coder/coders and company/companies based in New Zealand or overseas? If overseas, from wich countries have the ADHB patient records been accessed?
4. How does ADHB monitor and protect the privacy & confidentiality of patient records, information and data when accessed by clinical coders from outside New Zealand?

Yours faithfully,
Claudia

Yours sincerely,

CK

Dear Elaine Keenan (ADHB),
Queries regarding Clinical Coding Department of ADHB. Please endeavour to reply to all the queries.
1. ADHB has awarded Clinical Coding contracts without inviting tenders. Local New Zealand and overseas companies were not given an opportunity to compete for the contract. How were these specific companies picked, for example by recommonadtion, Yellow Pages or Google search, etc?

2. When were the Australian company in New Zealand company given the contracts ( dates)? What are the names of these companies?
3. Please list ALL countries outside New Zealand from where patient records have accessed by Clinical Coders since January 2019.
4. How many permanent full time employess from the ADHB Clinical coding department work for
( directly or indirectly), and are remunerated by the contracted companies?

Yours sincerely,

Claudia

CK