The National Coding Centre--an overview

Medical Record Administrators have been aware of the need for a National Coding Authority in Australia for many years. With the establishment of the National Reference Centre for Reference Centre for Classification in Health in 1991 and the subsequent call for tenders for the establishment of a Coding Authority the movement to develop much needed standards, improve data and coding quality began to take shape. This paper outlines the lead up to the call for tenders, the terms of reference and objectives of the Coding Centre, the proposed staff, and the work program for the first three years.