Health Funding Authority

{{Short description|Defunct New Zealand government entity}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox government agency |agency_name = Health Funding Authority |nativename_r = |logo = Health Funding Authority logo.png |logo_width = 250px |logo_caption = |seal = |seal_width = |seal_caption = |picture = |picture_width = |picture_caption = |formed = 1997 |preceding1 = Regional Health Authorities |dissolved = 1 January 2001 |superseding = Ministry of Health *District Health Boards |jurisdiction = New Zealand |headquarters = |employees = |budget = |minister1_name = |minister1_pfo = Minister of Health |chief1_name = |chief1_position = Chief Executive Officer |chief2_name = |chief2_position = |parent_agency = |child1_agency = |website = http://www.hfa.govt.nz |footnotes = }} The '''Health Funding Authority''', now defunct, was a New Zealand government entity responsible for funding of public health care in New Zealand between 1997 and 2001.

==History== It was formed through the merger of the four Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) as part of the coalition agreement between the New Zealand National Party and New Zealand First following the 1996 general election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Authority to take over early |work=The Evening Post |date=17 December 1997 |page=2 }}</ref> The premise was that having a separate purchaser could provide greater efficiency within the health system.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Maling |title=Health care system goes back to the way we were |work=The Dominion |date=4 February 2000 |page=9 }}</ref>

Following the 1999 General Election the new government, left wing New Zealand Labour Party-led coalition set about changing the health system once more; in part due to low public confidence in the health system since the quasi-market reforms attempted earlier in the decade by the previous National Party government.<ref>Devlin N, Maynard A, Mays N (2001) New Zealand's new health sector reforms: back to the future?. BMJ 12;322(7295):1171-4. {{PMID|11348917}}</ref>

The HFA was forcibly dissolved by an Act of Parliament, with its purchasing roles picked up by the Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards (DHB) as part of the new Primary Care Strategy outlined in Labour's 1999 election campaign.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kathryn |last=McNeil |title=Big health system changes announced; Changes to Hospital and Health Services (HHS) and the Health Funding Authority (HFA) |work=The Press |date=3 February 2000 |page=3 }}</ref> In January the DHBs came into existence and the HFA functions were absorbed by them and Minister of Health.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boards will provide public input into health system |work=The Dominion |date=15 August 2001 |page=13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Langdon |title=Health ministry taken to task |work=The Press |date=15 February 2001 |page=3 }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:1997 establishments in New Zealand Category:Medical and health organisations based in New Zealand Category:Government agencies of New Zealand Category:Defunct organisations based in New Zealand Category:2001 disestablishments in New Zealand