Penny Shakespeare has been permanently appointed deputy secretary for the Department of Health's 'health financing' division.
Ms Shakespeare has been acting in the role since the retirement of Andrew Stuart in August last year.
The health financing division includes three branches: technology, assessment and access; medical benefits; and, provider benefits integrity.
Private health insurance is included in the medical benefits division. It also includes diagnostic imaging and MBS policy. The health financing division is also responsible for policy in relation to the Prostheses List.
Some of the other areas covered by the health financing division are Medicare policy, including the current review of all Medicare item numbers, PBS, pharmacy and diagnostic imaging.
Ms Shakespeare was previously the first assistant secretary of the technology, assessment and access division.