asked the Minister for Health and Ageing, in writing, on 16 August 2011:

In respect of hip replacement operations utilizing now recalled products manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., (a) how many of these operations were funded by Medicare, and at what cost, (b) what was the cost to the Government of patients who have or will have revision surgery, and (c) what is the Government doing to recoup, from DePuy Orthopaedic, the money it has invested in the use of these products, including revision surgery.

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(a) According to National Joint Replacement Registry data, approximately 4800 hip replacement surgeries occurred in Australia using ASR devices. As Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for hip surgery do not identify which prostheses are used it is not possible to identify how many of these surgeries were funded by Medicare using MBS data.

(b) It is not possible to answer this question - see (a) above.

(c) The Government will continue to consider any options it may have.