Medicare
It was really hard for Sharon* to reach out for help.
For a while now her sleep had been terrible, and each morning she woke up feeling tired and thinking that her life was pointless. She felt alone, scared and full of self-doubt. Sharon had very little motivation and her head was filled with thoughts of failure. Her GP thought it would be a good idea to see a psychologist, so she called the number and made an appointment.
There was no quick fix. Sharon hadn’t told her GP, but as a child she had been subjected to repeated sexual abuse. It wasn’t something she could share at first because she didn’t feel safe trusting anyone with this. For the first few months she just told the psychologist what they wanted to hear.
Continue reading "A mental health crisis… and we’re cutting support" »
Whitlam was a radical, according to the Institute of Public Affairs. A very successful radical, and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott could learn from him.
The IPA has released an extraordinary pamphlet: Be like Gough: 75 radical ideas to transform Australia.
You could even say it’s radical.
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John says:
The public service is bigger than ever… and you call that being “gutted”. You’re a strange chap. Read more »
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Babylon says:
In Europe, When Portugal threw out its socialist left wing Government it joined 27 other European States that had already done so. The reason for the expulsion of these radical Left Governments was the lunatic spending and borrowing, which appears to be a characteristc of Left wing Governments. Europe has… Read more »
When it comes to infant male circumcision there’s been an astonishing change in Australia over the past 30 years.
While nearly half of the adult male population has been circumcised, today as few as 10 to 20 per cent of newborn baby boys get it done. We’ve given the snip, the snip, and the scalpel of old is collecting dust.
In fact, the federal government is even reviewing whether the procedure should still qualify for Medicare benefits. Leading medical authorities don’t believe there’s a substantial medical justification for it.
Continue reading "Is it time to give circumcision the big snip?" »
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IWantMyForeskinBack ! says:
@RG : As a mother of 4 daughters, (all under age 7) ALL of them are circumcised, so does that mean I am a selfish, image obsessed, or religious nut? NO! I got my daughters done purely because when I DIDN’T get my first born done straight away she had… Read more »
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Simon Harris says:
@Sam, perhaps you have misunderstood the intentions behind many of the comments here. Most so called ‘intactivists’ are not out to change your mind on circumcision. If you are happy with your own circumcised state, or are happy with your partner’s circumcised state then that is fine. If you are… Read more »
Given the bitterness of political exchange, Julia Gillard may be excused for crowing, for basking in the warm light of an all-too-rare win.
Even before clearing the final hurdle of a Senate vote next month - where the numbers are assured - yesterday’s House of Representatives victory on the carbon tax bills is being hailed as “historic”.
It is a very deliberate term crafted to dove-tail with the embattled PM’s view that through his frothing opposition to the package, Tony Abbott has over-reached and will find it was he who ended up “on the wrong side of history”.
Continue reading "Just like Medicare, except Australians don’t want it" »
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Medicare says:
I can now look at a used car salesman and know I would trust him more than the PM. We need to price carbon tax. Like many governments, the Australian Government is under fiscal pressure. http://www.medicarewyoming.com/ Read more »
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Think says:
You’re right, despite what the paid right-wing trolls here are spewing. the Noalition hasn’t got an original idea between; all they can do or want to do is push Australia back into a Right-wing, misogynist, religious darkage. Everywhere we look, far Right bias; the far Right have an absolute monopoly… Read more »
Our government has been trying to ensure that the generous rebate to millions of Australians who take out private health insurance remains in place, and remains sustainable into the future.
To do this, we’ve tried to introduce a means test that stops support for a family earning more than a quarter of a millions dollars - but retains it for nearly 8 million low and middle income Australians, with a scale down for those in between.
Our last changes were met with predictions from the Liberals and insurers that the sky would fall in and that millions would drop out of insurance.
Continue reading "Let’s debate the rebate with some nice healthy facts" »
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Beyonce says:
I love these articles. How many words can a wormsdith smith? Read more »
I recently took myself to a medical clinic that bulk-billed. I didn’t go there because they bulk-billed. I went because the clinic was walking distance from my office building. I needed to get tested for Helicobacter pylori. Here’s what happened:
GP: You can take the test home, do it yourself and bring it back to be sent to the lab. (No further instructions so I leave and I attempt to pick up the test from reception.)
Medical Receptionist: No, you do the test here, but after two hours of fasting, water is allowed.
(I return after two hours of fasting, having drunk a glass of water during that time.)
Centre Manager: Actually you need to have fasted for 6 hours, nil water, but it should be OK.
Continue reading "Medicareless: Our two-tier, second-rate health system" »
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MK says:
I tend to Agree, you were being a WORSE patient, you knew your family history, but chose not to tell the doctor (not your regular docotor) and make a point about them not asking your family history, “Hi, my name is X i have a family hisotyr of stomach cancer,… Read more »
Structural reform of Australian healthcare financing can cut inequity and promote universal choice as well as universal service delivery.
In a society as wealthy as ours it’s understandable that Australians support universal access to healthcare.
But accepting this principle and the current one-size-fits-all structure of Medicare are different. Under the current structure only those who can voluntarily afford to opt out of the system have real choice.
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helen says:
Dear Australian Public, Australia’s political class is regarded in some sectors of the global community as the Stupid, Selfish White Men Syndrome” as Rudd’s daughter clearly indicated on A.b.c The Drum’s. Think tanks serve a purpose… Read more »
The Federal Australian Medical Association opposes the Government’s Medicare Locals as currently proposed.
There is little detail on structure or funding. There is no explanation of patient benefit. There is plenty of uncertainty.
Medicare Locals are supposed to be a major plank of the Government’s health reforms. It is a weak and wobbly plank.
Continue reading "Health reforms walking a weak and wobbly plank" »
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BowralHealth says:
Hello! Is there anyone out there? Well anyone who is still standing upright, that is! Guys, guys! Remember the topic of this discussion? “Health reforms walking a weak and wobbly plank”. I thought that “persephone” set the standard for what I thought would be an interesting debate about the value… Read more »
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james milton says:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/05/1065292476170.html?from=storyrhs AMA threatens tidal wave of doctor walkouts From a 5 second google search. The health system is in a mess partially because GP’s get paid 3 times more than in first world European countries like Germany. No money left for anything else. Read more »
When the Prime Minister was under the gun for her ‘gushing’ speech to the US Congress on Q&A on Monday night, she said that Australians and Americans were very different kinds of people. The former believed in the ‘fair go’, whereas the later were individualistic and distrusted government.
To illustrate her point, she reached into the standard playbook of the Left and pointed to the different attitudes that prevail in each country regarding health care.
According to the PM, when Australians look at the debate that has raged in the US over ‘Obamacare’, they wonder what on earth Americans are going on about. Because here in this country, we know that ‘Medicare works’.
Continue reading "Medicare: Australia’s very sick sacred cow" »
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This is the second in a series of essays adapted from the Centre for Policy Development book, More Than Luck: Ideas Australia needs now.
A Medicare credit card could make healthcare co-payments simpler and more affordable, writes Jennifer Doggett.
If you’ve ever been sick – really sick - in this country, you know that paying your medical bills isn’t cheap.
It’s also complex. Health insurance seldom covers the full cost of a procedure, so patients often leave hospital with a big bill waiting for them. Some of it can be claimed back on Medicare; some of it can’t. As well as being expensive, medical expenses are difficult to understand and a huge waste of time and effort. And all when you’re supposed to be resting and recuperating!
Our current system of health funding is failing. We spend more on health services every year and still many Australians miss out on the care they need.
Continue reading "A Medicare credit card could solve our health headache" »
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Colin Fraser says:
This is another one of those “Gee what a good idea” articles that are actually meaningless. I agree that we do things very wrong but the fact is that we have never really defined what “health care” is. What do we mean by health care? Minimizing bubonic plague and malaria… Read more »
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persephone says:
Jennifer and, as you know, many of these people are never going to get better. They’re never going to stop needing the support, and they’re never going to be able to earn an income. So you’re proposing that we put further costs on the health system by letting chronically ill… Read more »
For the very first time I find myself agreeing with Tony Abbott. Not because of his views on climate change, and definitely not because of his views on homosexuality, but simply because he expressed reservations about introducing an e-Health records system.
The national e-Health records system is due to be rolled out in 2012, and would allow health providers to access patient summaries that include conditions, medications, test results allergies, and vaccinations as well as an indexed summary of specific health events and the related practitioner.
One of the obvious benefits of this system is that it will potentially promote consistent care across jurisdictions. But when it comes to the kind of sensitive information exchanged during psychological treatment, this level of transparency is equally undesirable.
Continue reading "How e-Health records could stop mental health treatment" »
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Faced with the debate over President Obama’s project to overhaul American health care, I’m finding it difficult to maintain the impartiality required of an ABC Current Affairs presenter.
I’ve had rather a lot of care from what the Americans call “socialised medicine”, here and in the UK – in fact without it, I’d be dead several times over – and some of the things that have been said against it strike me as plain ridiculous.
We’ll come to my own experience shortly, but first a taste of what I mean about the American debate. According to Sarah Palin, for example, the Obama plan will involve a system of sinister committees – “death panels” - which will decide whether the old or infirm have the right to live or die.
Continue reading "If I lived in the United States I’d be dead, or dead broke" »
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Marina says:
@Terry and Darin. I agree with you. Unless you live here and experience it for you self you have no idea about what is going on. So many of the statements made above are ignorant and untrue. As Terry said the American system does need to be better but NOT… Read more »
This week in Parliament will be an important test of the Opposition’s commitment to both health reform and economic responsibility.
Right now we’re looking at making some of the biggest reforms to our health care system since the introduction of Medicare.
We can’t do that unless we make the hard decisions.
Continue reading "Coalition is being reckless on private health insurance" »
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tracey says:
I am a 72 year old lady whom is on a disabled pension. If you can afford private health cover then why not take it out. I have some crippling and disabling chronis disase problems that the public system has tried to manage but just does not have the resources.… Read more »
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Sherlock says:
Yet another step in the class war that’s been waged by the Rudd Government since the day it took office. It’s refreshing this time to see the responsible minister actually admit it. Read more »
Make no mistake about it. The battle to preserve Australia’s mix of public and private health care will be joined in earnest this week.
At stake is a worsening of the shaky health of our public hospitals.
At stake also is a direct cost impact for almost half the population who have private health insurance and an indirect, or delayed, impact on those who rely on public hospitals for treatment.
Continue reading "The ALP simply hates private health insurance" »
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Chris Chinniah says:
The cut in the rebates on the private insurance will force countless people to flock to public healthcare instead, and thus the government must be prepared for the consequences. Read more »
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From the Budget papers:
The Government is committed to retaining the [Extended Medicare Safety Net]. This demands that the safety net remain sustainable. There is evidence to suggest that excessive growth of fees for obstetrics and other services, such as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), hair transplants and varicose veins is putting this sustainability at risk.
(I need to be clear that this is not in any way making light of the fact that treatments like IVF are facing a cap. You can read about a child who probably would never have been born had the cap been in place here.)
Step forward, Shane Warne. You have clearly encouraged men of Australia to seek out hair replacement treatments in a way that provides an opportunity to publish this picture again. Warney videos for your viewing pleasure below, too.
Continue reading "Yeah, yeah: Warney’s role in $450m Medicare blowout" »
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