The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Times Media

.

Cheaper medicines and a new approach for mental health care. Will the budget make us healthier?

  • Written by Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute
Cheaper medicines and a new approach for mental health care. Will the budget make us healthier?

Health was a centrepiece of last year’s budget, based on a new vision[1] for Medicare. This year, there is less health reform, but the budget does set the foundation for a new approach to community-based mental health care.

The themes of reducing cost-of-living pressures, and expanding care in the community to keep people out of hospital, span several key initiatives. Here’s what the budget means for the health system and Australians’ access to care.

A new approach to mental health services

Many Australians are missing out on the mental health support they need, with the biggest problems in disadvantaged areas that have higher needs but far fewer services:

A 2022 evaluation[2] of the Better Access initiative – which provides Medicare-subsidised mental health services – found it was not very well targeted to people with mild to moderate illness, was often ineffective, and often didn’t reach those on the lowest incomes. The government’s new approach appears more promising. It will spend A$361 million over four years to better target support to people’s level of need: for those with mild mental health concerns, from January 1 2026, there will be a new free digital health service which can be used without a referral for those with moderate-to-severe mental health needs, the government is beefing up and rebranding the Head to Health network, which will bring it up to 61 free walk-in community mental health services for those with more complex needs, Primary Health Networks (bodies responsible for improving primary care) will be funded to work with GPs to build a team of mental health nurses and other allied health professionals to provide free coordination and support. This more targeted approach is welcome, and could ensure fewer people fall through the cracks in the system. But getting the design and implementation of this new system right will be crucial. And given workforce constraints[3], including the short supply of psychiatrists, it may be a struggle to meet demand. New urgent care clinics Twenty-nine more urgent care clinics will be built, at a cost of $227 million, bringing the total to 87. These clinics provide relatively straightforward care for urgent problems, such as sprains or fevers, and are intended to keep people out of overflowing emergency departments. Shifting care out of hospitals is important because hospital demand and costs keep surging higher. But the way these new clinics are designed and run must be informed by evaluations of the ones that have already been built, to ensure they reduce pressure on hospitals and are good value for money. Supporting older people to get out – and stay out – of hospital Older people can get stuck in hospital for too long[4] because they can’t get the support they need in the community. The federal government will work with the states to better tackle this issue in multiple ways, including more hospital outreach services and virtual care, adding up to $882 million over five years. If done well, this would not only improve quality of life for older people, but also help to free up hospital beds. Freezing medicine costs Patient medicine costs have already fallen because of previous cuts to patient fees and the introduction of 60-day dispensing. This budget does a bit more by freezing maximum prescription fees at $31.60 for non-concession card holders for one year, and at $7.70 for concession card holders for five years, at a total cost of $318 million over five years. The longer freeze for poorer patients makes sense, because they are about twice as likely[5] as the wealthiest people to say that cost stops them getting prescribed medicines. And concession card holders didn’t get a fee cut when a $12.50 reduction[6] was given to other Australians in the 2022–23 budget. This year’s budget also allocates $3.4 billion to adding new drugs to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, while pharmacists will be funded to provide free vaccinations to aged care residents in their homes. But one measure goes against the cost-of-living grain. The $1 discount that pharmacies can offer on prescriptions will gradually fall to zero, further dampening price competition, which is already limited in the highly regulated community pharmacy sector. Other investments As always, there are dozens of other health items. Some of the more notable ones include: more money for medical research, with $1.4 billion over 13 years, including spending on existing initiatives and two new focus areas from 2027–28: low-survival cancers and reducing health inequities $90 million over three years to help get overseas-trained doctors into Australia, in line with a review[7] $70 million over four years to make MRI scans more accessible and affordable a focus on women’s health, including nearly $50 million over four years on gynaecology consultations for women with complex conditions, and more spending on women’s sexual and reproductive health services, including longer midwife consultations, and indemnity insurance cover for privately practising midwives supporting homebirths. What’s missing? There is some spending on prevention, including measures to prevent and treat HIV, new vaccine funding, expansion of bowel screening to people aged 45 to 50, and funding to continue a range existing programs. But the new investment is limited given how far Australia lags behind[8] other wealthy countries in funding to keep people healthy, and there is no sign that Australia will be building the strong Centre for Disease Control[9] we need. Some areas where costs are a barrier to care for many[10] got little attention, including dental care[11] and specialist care. And while there were measures to boost the health-care workforce, and improve rural health, new funding in these areas was limited. Perhaps the biggest black hole is public hospital funding. Last year, the federal government agreed to pay a bigger share under a new five-year deal, but the budget papers on health spending don’t take this into account. Even so, federal public hospital spending is predicted to grow by about $2 billion a year. This will be higher under the deal that the federal and state governments are close to finalising. When the deal is done, hopefully it will come with a new approach to national health reform[12] that tackles some of the problems that weren’t addressed in this budget.

References

  1. ^ new vision (www.health.gov.au)
  2. ^ evaluation (www.health.gov.au)
  3. ^ workforce constraints (www.health.gov.au)
  4. ^ in hospital for too long (www.ama.com.au)
  5. ^ about twice as likely (www.abs.gov.au)
  6. ^ $12.50 reduction (www.health.gov.au)
  7. ^ review (www.health.gov.au)
  8. ^ lags behind (www.croakey.org)
  9. ^ strong Centre for Disease Control (grattan.edu.au)
  10. ^ barrier to care for many (www.abs.gov.au)
  11. ^ dental care (grattan.edu.au)
  12. ^ new approach to national health reform (www.health.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/cheaper-medicines-and-a-new-approach-for-mental-health-care-will-the-budget-make-us-healthier-229612

The Times Features

Designer Wardrobe reports surge in pre-loved wedding gowns

As Australia’s wedding season approaches, and amidst a challenging cost of living backdrop, new insights from Designer Wardrobe reveal that Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) brid...

DIY Bathroom Remodel: Essential Tips for a Fresh Look

As the home improvement craze continues to grow, more folks are diving into the world of DIY projects to transform their living spaces. Among these, bathroom remodels have gain...

STI rates are increasing among midlife and older adults. We need to talk about it

Globally, the rates of common sexually transmissible infections[1] (STIs) are increasing among people aged over 50. In some cases, rates are rising faster than among younger pe...

The Gift That Keeps Growing: Why Tinybeans+ Gift Cards are a game-changer for new parents

As new parents navigate the joys and challenges of raising a child in the digital age, one question looms large: how do you preserve and share your baby's milestones without co...

Group Adventures Made Easy: How to Coordinate Shuttle Services from DCA to IAD

Traveling as a large group can be both exciting and challenging, especially when navigating busy airports like DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) and IAD (Washington...

From Anxiety to Assurance: Proven Strategies to Support Your Child's Emotional Health

Navigating the intricate landscape of childhood emotions can be a daunting task for any parent, especially when faced with common fears and anxieties. However, transforming anxie...

Times Magazine

Australia takes the title of sixth most hacked country in the world

Over 59,000 cybercrimes were reported in Australia in one year (2019 – 2020), at an average of 165 reports per day or even more shockingly one report every 10 minutes1. With these statistics, it’s no surprise that Australia takes the title of six...

8 Benefits of Using a Breast Pump For Busy Moms

Being a busy mom comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. Managing household chores, work commitments, and taking care of children can leave very little time for oneself. One essential aspect that can often be challenging for b...

Asia’s Finest: The Prophets of Football from the East

The culture of Asiatic countries isn’t that prone to football, or at least to the practice or affiliation to clubs in general. They prize, probably due to the irrelevance of the Asiatic teams in the wide world of football, a bigger appreciation f...

Meet the artist combating the mental impacts of advanced tech with art

In a world where advanced technology threatens to diminish our creative minds and impact our mental well-being, one extraordinary artist is taking a stand. Ange Miller, a visionary artist and advocate for the transformative power of creativity, is ...

The Importance of a Good Divorce Lawyer: Insights from Leading Practitioners in Sydney

Due to its complexity, divorce is considered the most stressful and daunting event of one’s life. It has an emotional toll, with the labyrinth of legal processes causing a feeling of loss and overwhelm. In Australia, the divorce rate has been ri...

WITHINGS, the pioneer of the connected health movement announces Body Scan

The connected health station helps users get a handle on health with the ability to measure health vitals and access to personal health plans based on behavioural science WITHINGS, the pioneer of the connected health movement, brings the smart s...