CHAPTER FIVE: the australian healthcare system Flashcards
1
Q
health system
A
- activities whose primary purpose is to promote, restore and/or maintain health
2
Q
primary healthcare
A
- refers to an individual’s first contact with the healthcare system
3
Q
secondary care
A
- includes health services and medical care provided by specialists after a referral from a primary healthcare professional.
4
Q
Medicare
A
- Australia’s universal healthcare system, which aims to improve the access to healthcare for all Australians and to provide access to adequate healthcare at little or no cost to all Australians in need of treatment, regardless of age or income
5
Q
Medicare objectives
A
- to make healthcare more affordable for all
Australians - to give all Australians access to healthcare services with priority according to clinical need
- to provide a high quality of care
6
Q
Medicare safety net
A
7
Q
what is covered by Medicare?
A
- free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such as doctors’ consultation fees as often as needed (including some specialists)
- tests and examinations that are needed to treat illness, including x-rays and pathology tests
- optometrists’ eye tests
- most procedures performed by GPs
8
Q
what is not covered by Medicare?
A
- general/most dental examinations and treatments (except under specific circumstances – see details below)
- ambulance services
- home nursing
- most allied health services, such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, chiropractic services, podiatry or psychology services
- hearing aids, contact lenses and glasses
- medicines (except those covered by the PBS)
- medical costs incurred overseas
- medical examinations for employment purposes, life insurance or superannuation
- medical services that are not clinically necessary
- private hospital costs other than treatment, such as accommodation in hospital or items such as theatre fees and medicines
- acupuncture (unless part of a doctor’s consultation).
9
Q
advantages of Medicare
A
- choice of doctor for out-of-hospital services
- ## available to all Australian citizens
10
Q
disadvantages of Medicare
A
- no choice of doctor for in-hospital services
- waiting lists for many treatments
- ## emphasis is on treatment, not prevention
11
Q
funding Medicare
A
- general taxation
- Medicare levy of 2% on taxable income, payed by most tax payers- people with low income (<$20,000) or specific circumstances may be exempt from paying levy
- tax payers without private hospital insurance earning more than a certain amount pay a Medicare
levy surcharge — an additional 1—1.5% tax - based on the idea contributions should be made by individuals based on their ability to pay (the more you earn the more you pay)
** Medicare safety net** ensures people who require frequent services covered by Medicare (e.g doctor’s visits and tests) receive additional financial support — when individual’s or family’s patient copayment reaches a certain amount, services covered by Medicare become cheaper for them for the rest of the calendar year
12
Q
pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS)
A
- Australian Government program that provides subsidised prescription medication to Australian residents, as well as foreign visitors covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
13
Q
advantages of PBS
A
- provides access to essential medication at a subsidised
rate or in some cases, no cost - enables access to medications from local pharmacies
and does not require medications to be purchased from
specialised services - available to all Australian citizens, regardless of their age or income
14
Q
disadvantages of PBS
A
- it places a significant financial burden on the Commonwealth Government
- it does not generally cover all medications
- for most Australians, there is still a copayment of $41.00
15
Q
funding the PBS
A
