12 March 2019
Marie Daly
NZ Rural Hospital Network Executive Committee
C/O: FYI Website
Dear Marie
Official information request for MidCentral DHB Rural Adjuster Details
Thank you for your Official Information Act request on 2 March 2019 regarding
MidCentral DHB’s process for allocating, monitoring and reporting annual DHB
rural adjuster funds.
We have addressed each of your queries below:
1. For each of the past three years ending June 2016, June 2017 and June
2018 what was the DHBs Rural Adjuster funding component of the PBFF
funding pool?
MidCentral DHB does not hold information with respect to rural specific
funding. The rural adjuster is part of the total PBFF funding that is
allocated to the DHB each year – there is no separate rural funding line.
We have transferred this question to the Ministry of Health to provide
further context around the PBFF calculation.
2. Does the DHB fund and provide rural hospital services?
Yes – we support services that are provided in rural locations through a
process of funding allocation from the total annual DHB PBFF funding.
2.1 The rural hospital is located in Dannevirke. This is a privately
owned facility that the DHB supports with additional services
such as:
i. Rural inpatient beds
ii. General Practice team
iii. Primary Birthing
iv. Pharmacy Services
v. Mobile bus for rural patients
vi. Public Health
vii. Radiology Services
viii. Outpatient clinics supported through hospital services
ix. Community Mental Health
x. District Nursing
Strategy, Planning & Performance
MidCentral District Health Board, PO Box 2056, Palmerston North. Phone: 06 350 8928 Fax: 06 350 8926
2.2 There is no annual budget specific for the rural hospital, we
support services that are provided in rural locations through a
process of funding allocation from the total annual DHB PBFF
funding. We identify need through our locality planning and
trends to support the MidCentral DHB population.
2.3 The rural adjuster is not a separate line item, therefore it is
subject to the same annual process as all contracts. There is an
annual review of the contract and negotiation around potential
funding increases, including consideration around CPI
adjustment.
3. Does the DHB fund and provide rural community services?
Yes
3.1 The DHB supports a wide range of health services across the
MidCentral region which are also provided to rural patients.
Furthermore, we provide specific rural services such as:
a. Mobile Bus services for rural patients
b. Support for Eketahuna and Norsewood rural clinics
c. Rural general practice support through the Central PHO
These services are provided through a mixture of DHB, NGO and
private provider ownership models.
3.2 There is no annual budget specific for the rural services, we
support services that are provided in rural locations through a
process of funding allocation from the total annual DHB PBFF
funding. We identify need through our locality planning and
trends to support the MidCentral DHB population.
3.3 The rural adjuster is not a separate line item, therefore it is
subject to the same annual process as all contracts. There is an
annual review of the contract and negotiation around potential
funding increases, including consideration around CPI
adjustment.
4. For each of the past three years, under each of the components of the
Rural Adjuster, quantify the allocation of Rural Adjuster funding through
the DHBs contracts with its contracted providers or Service Level
Alliance Teams.
The rural adjuster is part of the total PBFF funding that is allocated to
the DHB each year – there is no separate rural funding line.
5. Does the DHB include reporting requirements specific to the use of rural
adjuster funding in its contracts with service providers whose contract
includes rural adjuster funding.
All contracts have reporting and auditing requirements. The rural
adjuster is part of the total PBFF funding that is allocated to the DHB
each year – as a result, there is no additional reporting required for
rural providers.
MidCentral DHB has a large rural sector and takes rural health seriously.
Historically we have provided considerable support to rural service provides
including Tararua Health Group which provides Dannevirke Community
Hospital. We continue to be committed to quality living, healthy lives and well
communities across the MidCentral region. Through our process of locality
planning we target funding to where the greatest need is.
Please note that this response, or an edited version of this response may be
published on the MidCentral DHB website ten working days after your receipt
of this response.
Yours Sincerely,
Craig Johnston
General Manager – Strategy, Planning and Performance
