Barry Sandison Deputy Secretary, Health and Information Department of Human Services Data: creating value for service delivery

Conference – “Information: the Currency of the Digital Economy” 29 May 2014Presented by Barry Sandison

Page 3 Commission of Audit: Emerging View of Information driving better services There is untapped potential to use anonymised data and new data analytic techniques to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government. The Commission recommends that the Government, recognising the need to safeguard privacy concerns, rapidly improve the use of data in policy development, service delivery….. Commission of Audit; Recommendation 61; Data

Page 4 DHS - INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Page 5 DHS’s Information Usage Informing Service Design The administrative data collected whilst delivering payments and services under Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support means: We know where people live When many have worked or not How they’ve responded to major life shocks How they were treated for illness We can follow family journeys through the social welfare system down the generations to help pinpoint disadvantage

Page 6 DHS’s Transaction Volumes DHS is the largest Govt. provider of digital services in Australia.

Page 7 Growth in Customer Self Service

Page 8 DHS’s role in Digital Services in Australia Collecting Data and Facilitating access while protecting privacy Authority to release data rests with the policy agencies responsible for the legislation under which administrative data is collected Strong protocols ensure clear accountability for data collection and release Existing gateways facilitate access to researchers to request de-identified data Communication up front helps researchers request the data they need

Page 9 Vast range of information collection

Page 10 DHS’s role in Digital Services in Australia Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a key channel in the delivery of electronic services for the department. EDI Comprises: Centrepay Confirmation Services Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) HPOS (claiming Medicare services at provider)

Page 11 DHS’s Information Usage Informing Service Design The administrative data we collect in delivering payments and services under Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support provides an invaluable source of information. We can contrast and compare the experiences of sub-groups within the population. We can look at people and groups through the mid to long term.

Page 12 DHS’s Information Usage Case Study: Tracking behaviour longitudinally (What services work)

Page 13 DHS’s Information Usage Case Study: Tracking behaviour longitudinally (What services work) -A collection of sites and customer outcomes were tracked over a two and a half year period to capture a gap in services -A digital service offer was implemented to address this gap -The post service offer data was analysed and shows that the gap has closed

Page 14 DHS’s Information Usage Case Study: Predicting Potential Compliance Risk Domestic child Support customers Collect, No Debt (580k) Customers with debt within three months (43k) Predicted debt customers (18k) Predicted customers with debt (12k) Predicted customers no debt (6k)

Page 15 DHS’s Information Usage Case Study: Detecting High Growth MBS service item -MBS item attributes and service level history are collected to predict the reasonable service level for each MBS item in the new year -A high risk item is flagged out if the actual service level for the item is significantly above the expected level -Further investigation will be taken for high risk items targeted Number of Services

Page 16 DHS’s Information Usage Case Study: Similarity Risk Analysis -Based on the clustering analysis, providers with similar behaviour will be clustered into clusters -Based on the known high risk target, providers in the same clusters is worthwhile being investigated.

Page 17 DHS’s Information Usage Collaboration A potential to better use a range of “Big Data” sets E.g. the data held by the Commonwealth and the States on “common customers” (to inform service delivery responses) Potential for researchers to access DHS “Big Data” Established gateways enable researchers to access statistical (non – identified) data Collaboration on issues of mutual high priority Potential for collaboration with external researchers on issues of mutual high priority Opportunity for Australians to more easily access their records

Page 18 Summary