Enterprise Patient Administration System

In reply to Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (1 August 2016). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries):

1. The approved total cost of ownership for EPAS was $421.5 million covering the years spanning from 2011-12 to 2020-21. The approved estimate for benefits/offsets over that same period was $435.6 million. These benefits included cost reductions from no longer having to pay licence fees for decommissioned legacy systems.

The latest cost estimate provided to the minister and to cabinet, in December 2015, for the total cost of ownership was $450.6 million. This was referred to in the Auditor-General's Report to parliament on 30 June 2016 (see page 11 of that report).

The latest estimated benefits/offsets, per review in January 2016, was $283.2 million over the 10 year period. This was referred to in the Auditor-General's Report to parliament on 30 June 2016 (see page 13 of that report).

2. As at 30 June 2016, the actual spend on the EPAS Program since its inception was $214.7 million out of the $421.5 million budget.

3. This leaves $206.7 million of the approved total cost of ownership budget remaining which includes $47.2 million of the program's $49.2 million contingency. There is no program contingency allocated for this year. The total EPAS budget allocated for 2016-17 is:

a. Capital project budget of $30.9 million

b. EPAS/SA Health operating budget of $23.8 million

4. Yes, this is reflected in the reduction in estimated benefits/offsets

5. EPAS can capture Department of Veterans' Affairs details, including card number and card colour, services covered, and indication if the patient is an ex-prisoner of war.