Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Australia’s Healthcare System
1. Summarise the five primary responsibilities of the federal government with regards to the health system.
-The management and funding of Medicare
-The management and funding of the pharmaceuticals Benefit Scheme (PBS)
-The regulation of private health insurance
-The development and regulation of health policy and legislation
-The management of national health programs
2. a. Define Medicare.
- Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme. Medicare gives all Australians, permanent residents and people from countries access to health care that is subsidised by the government. It aims to improve the access to health care for all Australians and to provide access to adequate healthcare at little or no cost to all Australians in the need of treatment, regardless of age or income.
3. b. What does Medicare cover?
• Doctors consultation fees as often as needed (including some specialist)
• Treatment and accommodation as a public patient in a public hospital as a result of an emergency or after referral from a doctor.
• Tests and examinations needed to treat illness, including x-rays and pathology tests
• Eye tests that are performed by an optometrist
• Most procedures performed by doctors.
c. What does Medicare not cover? • Dental examinations
• Dental treatment
• Ambulance services
• Home nursing
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Hearing aids, contact lenses and glasses
• Medicines (except those covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
• Medical costs incurred overseas
• Medical examinations for employment purposes
• Medical services not clinically necessary
• Private hospital costs
• Acupuncture (unless part of a doctors consultation)
4. a. What is meant by the term ‘schedule fee’? The practitioners may elect to charge more than the schedule fee, which will mean that the patient will have to pay the difference as an ‘out-of-pocket’ expense.
1. Summarise the five primary responsibilities of the federal government with regards to the health system.
-The management and funding of Medicare
-The management and funding of the pharmaceuticals Benefit Scheme (PBS)
-The regulation of private health insurance
-The development and regulation of health policy and legislation
-The management of national health programs
2. a. Define Medicare.
- Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme. Medicare gives all Australians, permanent residents and people from countries access to health care that is subsidised by the government. It aims to improve the access to health care for all Australians and to provide access to adequate healthcare at little or no cost to all Australians in the need of treatment, regardless of age or income.
3. b. What does Medicare cover?
• Doctors consultation fees as often as needed (including some specialist)
• Treatment and accommodation as a public patient in a public hospital as a result of an emergency or after referral from a doctor.
• Tests and examinations needed to treat illness, including x-rays and pathology tests
• Eye tests that are performed by an optometrist
• Most procedures performed by doctors.
c. What does Medicare not cover? • Dental examinations
• Dental treatment
• Ambulance services
• Home nursing
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Hearing aids, contact lenses and glasses
• Medicines (except those covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
• Medical costs incurred overseas
• Medical examinations for employment purposes
• Medical services not clinically necessary
• Private hospital costs
• Acupuncture (unless part of a doctors consultation)
4. a. What is meant by the term ‘schedule fee’? The practitioners may elect to charge more than the schedule fee, which will mean that the patient will have to pay the difference as an ‘out-of-pocket’ expense.