The Senate community affairs budget estimates hearing ran over time and Medicare's attendance was cancelled.
Liberal senators Sue Boyce and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells had signalled questions for the agency on the delay to technical specifications for software developers and vendor concerns over onerous liability conditions.
But on Thursday, committee chairwoman, Labor Senator Claire Moore, said time constraints meant Medicare representatives would not appear and all questions should be placed on notice. Answers are due by December 10.
E-health strategy branch assistant secretary Liz Forman said technical details for the HI system were being released "progressively" to software makers.
"You are quite right; until software is actually installed in the systems of the healthcare providers, they will not be able to download and use the identifiers, so that is a really key step," Ms Forman said.
"The National E-Health Transition Authority is working closely with the Medical Software Industry Association on reviewing the final specifications.
"There were a couple of late amendments to the legislation (passed in June) that need to be incorporated, but the majority of users can start planning much (sooner).
"We anticipate by (next) March the vendors will have had an opportunity to do all their development work, and software will be ready to undergo testing by independent laboratories."
In July, the MSIA warned members not to sign the Medicare development contracts as the agency had transferred all liability for HI system errors to individual firms.
The Australian understands software makers are unable to obtain insurance protection, as the government usually provides indemnity coverage.
Senator Boyce was told 14 out of 80 companies that requested the developer's kit had since signed the agreement.
"What are those 14 doing about insurance and indemnity?" she asked. "Was that not one of the sticking points?"
Ms Forman said the department had no access to that information.
"It would be an issue for NEHTA and Medicare," she said.
Senator Boyce said NEHTA's lack of accountability to parliament was an ongoing problem, with an apparent "level of mistrust and lack of consultation" continuing.
Health department chief and NEHTA director Jane Halton said the authority's board had "a discussion at every meeting about industry engagement, transparency and the performance of senior personnel in respect of those issues".
The board was also "having a dialogue" about appointing a second independent director, she said. Last year, former authority adviser Lynda O'Grady was appointed to the board.
Ms Halton confirmed the department, not NEHTA, would lead the government's $466.7 million closely controlled e-health record program.
"The Commonwealth is directly funding this particular work," she said.
"The states will have to make investments to participate, and make sure their systems integrate with that information."
Health deputy secretary Rosemary Huxtable said the authority would help decide how funds were spent, "but it will be through a contractual arrangement".
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Karen Dearne
Quelle/Source: Australian IT, 26.10.2010
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