The health minister is cautiously optimistic an agreement can be reached between state and federal leaders on hospital funding, but Mark Butler warns time is running out to strike a deal. It's not easy to get national cabinet together." National cabinet is expected to discuss hospital and NDIS funding when it meets. "More funding to 'just keep pace' will not lessen wait lists ... what matters with hospital funding is the fine print," she said. Dr McMullen called for an increase of up to $40 billion to bring the federal government's contribution to 45 per cent of hospital funding by 2030.