Purchase unit codes
Information on purchase unit codes used for services provided under Te Pae Tata, the New Zealand Health Plan.
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About purchase unit codes
A purchase unit (PU) code is part of a classification system used to consistently measure, quantify and value a service.
The purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) is a spreadsheet that contains all PU codes for counting of, funding and contracting for health services.
The PUDD includes the following information.
- Tab a – PU codes for health services.
- Tab b – a mapping table to provide mapping information of PU codes retired since version 16.3.
- Tab c – definitions for units of measure, and output classes (the same as contained in Te Whatu Or and Te Aka Whai Ora Statement of Performance Expectations).
- Tab d – links to nationwide service specifications used when using certain PU codes.
- Tab e – is a combination of any changes made to the latest version of the PUDD.
- Tab f – PU codes for National Non-admitted Patient Data Collection (NNPAC).
- Acronyms and Abbreviations used in the PUDD.
Guide to purchase unit codes
The Guide to Purchase Units and the PUDD (docx, 194.38 KB) provides general information on purchase units, the PUDD and how to request a new purchase unit.
The PUDD must be used in conjunction with the Common Counting Standards.
Request for new purchase unit codes
To request a new purchase unit code read the guide, then fill out the request template (xlsx, 58 KB) and email it to the NSFL team at nsfl@health.govt.nz
Purchase unit data dictionaries
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2024/25
Version 29 for use from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
PUDD v29
Version 29 of the purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX, 995KB) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2024/25 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2024/25 v29 can be found here (XLSX, 60KB).
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to Liu.Gong@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v29 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2024/25 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here (XLSX, 47KB).
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2023/24
Version 28.1 for use from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
PUDD v28.1
Version 28.1 of the purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX, 966KB) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2023/24 financial year.
Version v28 can be found here (XLSL, 970KB)
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2023/24 v28.1 can be found here. (XLSX, 41KB)
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v28.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2022/23
Version v27 for use from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
Version 27.1 of the Purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2022/23 financial year.
The Changes sheet for PUDD 2022/23 v27.1 can be found here.
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v27.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2021/22
Version v26 for use from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
Last updated 22 December 2021
PUDD V26.2
Version 26.2 of the Purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2021/22 financial year.
Changes Sheets for 2021/22
The Change sheet for PUDD 2021/22 v26.2 can be found here.
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections v26
The Purchase Units for National Collections v26 includes the purchase units that can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2021/22 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2023/24
PUDD V28
Version 28 of the Purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2023/24 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The Changes sheet for PUDD 2023/24 v28 can be found here.
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v8 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Common Counting Standards
Common Counting Standards
Published July 2021
Standards to guide counting and reporting of outpatient activity
The Common Counting Standards outline how health activity should be defined, measured and counted to support the planning of health services.
The Standards support funding and costing decisions, and they contribute towards a sound platform from which pricing can be derived.
They provide clear business rules for a consistent approach when using existing purchase unit (PU) codes from the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary, and when developing new PU codes.
Version 1.1 has been updated to align with National collection rules (NNPAC and NMDS).
The original standards were developed by the Common Counting Technical Advisory Group, a cross DHB-Ministry group.
The Common Counting Standards 2013/14 was updated in January 2017, and replaced in March 2021 by version 1.1a.