Budgeting system administration

As shown in Figure 5.2, the Government budget accounted for 53% of the Administration s budget in the fiscal year 1994/95. This was reduced to 22% in 1997/98, and by 1999 the TGA was financed entirely by the fees and charges it levied for its services. Under the present fee system, the fee schedules are reviewed annually in consultation with the industry. 

Simplified systems for implementing direct payments allow decoupled payments for a transitional period if the administrative structures to manage the complicated EU system are not yet in place. This decoupled approach resembles elements of the European Commission s mid-term review proposals (EC 2002b). As in the existing EU, the new members will also benefit from rural development measures which could be financed by the EU up to 80 per cent. Relative to the budget of the first pillar of the CAP, the budget for rural development in the new member states will be higher than in the old member states. 

Key operational components of an information technology plan include provision for maintenance of current systems. Software maintenance costs alone can typically run from 18 to 22 percent of software list prices and the qualified human resources necessary to support installed systems. Typically, information technologies in health care systems are either undeiihinded or place an unreasonable emphasis on administrative systems. An allocation of iq) to 6 percent of the annual operating budget for information systems is not unrealistic. A summary of contemporary infoimation systems is included in the Table 37.3. 

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