Medical Costs Finder Invoices & Receipts
Dear Department of Health,
I request the invoices and receipts in relation to the "Medical Costs Finder" project.
Where the total amount exceeds $1000, or where there are related invoices or receipts the total value of those (in similar vein to https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instruc... ) exceed $1000.
I think a reasonable person would see that the payments in relation to a project that has been estimated to cost ~$24 million so far and only has 20 doctors Australia-wide and has been widely reported on[1][2][3] is obviously in the public interest.
Yours faithfully,
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
[2] https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health...
[3] https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/...
Good afternoon Mr Black,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
The invoices and receipts in relation to the "Medical Costs Finder"
project. Where the total amount exceeds $1000, or where there are related
invoices or receipts the total value of those exceed $1000.
The reference number for your request is FOI-5185. Please ensure that you
quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Scope Clarification
The department has reviewed the scope of your request and believes that in
its current form, there could be an unreasonable diversion of resources to
process your request.
Taking this into consideration, we are contacting you to assist with
clarifying the scope of your request.
The department has conducted preliminary searches and has located a
document that sets out the following details in relation to your request:
o Invoice number
o Date of invoice
o Dollar value of invoice
As such, the department is seeking your agreement to revise the scope of
your request as follows:
“A document setting out details of the invoices and receipts relating to
the Medical Costs Finder project. The “details” sought are the invoice
number, date, and dollar value of each invoice.”
Please advise the department by 2:00pm 21 June 2024 if you are agreeable
to the revised scope italicised above.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 8 June 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 8 July 2024. The
period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
· any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the scope
of your request, and
· any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service
level and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Hannah
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
Good afternoon Mr Black,
I refer to your request to the Department of Health and Aged Care (the
department) of 8 June 2024 seeking access to the following under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act):
The invoices and receipts in relation to the "Medical Costs Finder"
project. Where the total amount exceeds $1000, or where there are related
invoices or receipts the total value of those exceed $1000.
The statutory due date for your request is currently 8 July 2024.
Request for extension of time
Section 15AA of the FOI Act permits the department to extend the statutory
processing timeframe, with your agreement, for a period of up to 30
calendar days.
On 19 June 2024, the department contacted you seeking your agreement to
revise the scope of your request to ensure that it could be processed by
the department and not result in an unreasonable diversion of resources.
As the department did not receive a response from you, the relevant
business area within the department is working to identify all documents
within scope of your request, which it expects will be a considerable
amount.
To ensure that department has undertaken all reasonable steps to identify
all documents relevant to your request, and for the decision maker to make
a well-balanced decision on access to any such documents identified, the
department is seeking your agreement to an extension of 14 calendar days.
If you agree to this extension, the statutory due date will then be 22
July 2024. The department will, however, continue to process your request
as quickly as possible.
It would assist if you could please advise by 3:00pm Friday, 5 July 2024
if you agree to this extension of time. If we do not hear from you by this
date or if you do not agree to the extension, the department may consider
seeking an extension of time from the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) under section 15AB of the FOI Act.
We thank you for your ongoing patience and cooperation as we continue to
process your request.
If you have any questions regarding any of the matters discussed in this
email, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section at
[1][email address].
Kind regards,
Hannah
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
Our reference: RQ24/02679
Agency reference: FOI 5185
Agency name Department of Health and Aged Care
By Email: [Health request email]
Name John Black
By Email:
[FOI #11502 email]
Extension of time under s 15AB
Dear Parties,
Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced FOI request.
Regards,
[1][IMG] Andriana DeIeso
Review Adviser
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Adelaide | GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001
E [2][email address]
Please note: The OAIC will be revising its IC Review
procedures commencing 1 July 2024. For more information
about these revised procedures, including new resources to
assist applicants and respondents, see our webpage:
[3]Upcoming changes to Information Commissioner review
procedure directions
I am available Monday to Wednesday; Tuesday and Wednesday alternate
weeks.
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.
[4]Subscribe to Information Matters
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
4. https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/n...
Dear Mr Black,
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
The invoices and receipts in relation to the "Medical Costs Finder"
project. Where the total amount exceeds $1000, or where there are related
invoices or receipts the total value of those exceed $1000.
Please see attached correspondence in relation to your FOI 4815 dated 16
July 2024.
Please do nit hesitate to contact us should you wish to discuss further.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Senior Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners
of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to
elders both past and present
FOI would like to recall the message, "FOI 4185 - Practical Refusal Consultation Notice [SEC=OFFICIAL]".
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately and delete all copies of this transmission."
Dear Mr Black,
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
The invoices and receipts in relation to the "Medical Costs Finder"
project. Where the total amount exceeds $1000, or where there are related
invoices or receipts the total value of those exceed $1000.
Please see attached correspondence in relation to your FOI 5185 dated 16
July 2024.
Please do nit hesitate to contact us should you wish to discuss further.
Kind regards,
Daniel
Senior Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners
of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to
elders both past and present