National Hospital Cost Data Collection

A key output of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) is the collection, validation, analysis and reporting of the National Hospital Cost Data Collection (NHCDC). This process is performed with the states and territories and private hospitals, who submit cost data to the NHCDC on an annual basis, previously known as a ‘round’.

The NHCDC is a unique collection and valuable evidence base that is used across the Australian health system. The collection matches patient level activity with the costs incurred by hospitals in relation to this activity, and is the primary data collection used to develop the national efficient price determination for the funding of public hospitals services.

To support consistency in the costing process, IHACPA works with stakeholders to develop and implement the Australian Hospital Patient Costing Standards (AHPCS). The current version of the AHPCS is Version 4.2.