Chapter 5: Australian Healthcare System Flashcards
1
Q
Components of effective healthcare systems
SEA
A
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Sustainability
- Effectively meeting ongoing health needs, enabling current and future generations to experience good health
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Equity
- Catering to the various requirements of different people
- The needs of people guide the distribution of support
- Closely linked to fairness and social justice
- Providing extra support for people in need so they can have the same opportunities in life as everyone else
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Access
- Being able to make use of healthcare services without barriers such as location, knowledge, time or cost
2
Q
Health system
A
- Activities that promote, restore and/or maintain health
- Effective healthcare systems are able to deliver quality healthcare services to all people when and where they are required
3
Q
Primary healthcare vs secondary care
A
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Primary – first contact with healthcare system
- Tend to be delivered in local clinics or community health centres (not typically related to hospital care)
- Doesn’t work in isolation (works alongside 2ndary care)
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Secondary – services provided after a referral from a primary healthcare professional
- Offered by specialists or in hospitals
4
Q
Medicare and its 3 mains objectives
A
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Australia’s universal healthcare system that aims to:
- Make healthcare more affordable for all Australians
- Give all Australians access to healthcare services with priority according to clinical need
- Provide high-quality care
- Remove cost as a barrier to seeking health care
5
Q
Services covered and not covered by Medicare
A
-
Covered
- Consultation fees for GPs (100%) and specialists (85%)
- Most procedures performed by GPs
- X-rays and pathology tests
- Optometrists’ eye tests
-
Not covered
- Allied health services e.g. physiotherapy
- Hearing aids, contact lenses and glasses
- Ambulance services
- Home nursing
6
Q
How can Medicare promote HWB?
A
- Physical – healthcare is accessible to all citizens and PRs
- Mental – subsidises costs of health services and, thus, reduces stress and anxiety due to the financial burden of healthcare
7
Q
Medicare safety net
A
- Extra financial support to those that have significant out of pocket costs for health services (e.g. those w chronic illness)
- 100% reimbursement once the threshold has been reached
8
Q
Medicare funding
A
-
Medicare levy
- 2% levy paid by most tax payers
- People who earn below a certain amount are exempt
-
Medicare levy surcharge
- 1-1.5% paid by people earning over a certain amount of money and do not have private health insurance
- Encourages higher income earners to get PHI
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General income taxation
- If the above do not fully cover the costs of medicare
9
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of Medicare
A
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Advantages
- Accessible for every Australian citizen or PR
- Access to essential healthcare at little or no cost
- Reciprocal agreement allows Australian citizens to access subsidised/free healthcare in selected countries
-
Disadvantages
- Financial burden on the Commonwealth Government
- Long wait times for many treatments (non-emergency)
- Does not cover the cost of allied health services
- No choice of doctor for in-hospital treatments
10
Q
Sustainability, equity and access of medicare
A
-
Sustainability
- Removes the barrier of cost, making people more likely to access healthcare which prevents the development of serious conditions
- Reduces the need for expensive treatment later on (e.g. surgeries), keeping costs under control and sustainable in the future
-
Equity
- Safety net protects people who experience higher costs of healthcare, thus providing extra support to those who need it most
-
Access
- Rebates makes healthcare financially accessible
- Accessible for all Australian citizens and PRs regardless of income, culture, gender, etc.
11
Q
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
A
- Australian Government initiative that subsidises the cost of a wide range of prescription medications
- Developed to prevent the development of serious conditions and reduce the burden on the healthcare system
12
Q
How can the PBS promote HWB?
A
- Mental – keeping medication affordable can reduce the stress or anxiety associated with covering high medication costs
- Physical – access to essential medication tends to play an important role in the treatment and control of illness
13
Q
PBS funding
A
- Commonwealth Government through taxes
- Partially by the money collected through co-payments
14
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of the PBS
A
-
Advantages
- Subsidised costs of essential medication
- Available to all Aus citizens, regardless of age/income
- Includes the PBS safety net that further protects people from the high cost of medication
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Disadvantages
- Financial burden on the Commonwealth Government
- Does not cover all medications
- For most Australians, there is still a co-payment of $41
15
Q
Sustainability, equity and access of the PBS
A
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Sustainability
- Only the medication that are deemed to have the greatest benefit are listed, keeping costs manageable
-
Equity
- Safety net gives extra support to people who need it most (e.g. those with chronic illness who consistently take expensive medication)
- Cost is significantly reduced or removed once the threshold is reached
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Access
- Subsidies make medication more financially accessible
