A Perth woman has shared a viral video that exposes a huge problem a growing number of Australians are grappling with. Imogen Blow, a content creator, took to TikTok last week to reveal she had been to see her GP because she kept losing her voice, which she needs forContinue Reading
Nine out of 10 Australians see a GP at least once a year — but in many places, the country’s once-lauded “free” healthcare has given way to hefty out-of-pocket fees of $100. Rates of bulk-billing — when a practitioner charges Medicare directly for the service — have plummeted, while doctorsContinue Reading
Jim Chalmers says Labor’s razor gang made hard decisions to bank extra revenue rather than spend it as he insists his second federal budget will drive down inflation. The Treasurer has defended splashing $21bn amid debate among some economists over whether the measures will make the inflation crisis worse andContinue Reading
Australia’s peak medical group has warned GPs will be forced to slug patients in the hip pocket unless the government addresses Medicare rebates which have become a “joke”. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) said levels of indexation of Medicare have not kept pace with other measures of inflation. It saidContinue Reading
A leading health economist has urged the government to drown out the loudest voices and avoid quick fixes as it embarks on a major reform of the Medicare system. The University of Melbourne’s Stephen Duckett warned against “poorly designed” quick fixes, including throwing money at the system without structural reform,Continue Reading
Australians could skip the GP and go straight to the pharmacy to treat mild conditions if large-scale Medicare and health reforms are achieved. On Friday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will petition the national cabinet for changes which would give pharmacies greater scope to prescribe medications like antibiotics for urinary tractContinue Reading
Medicare will undergo its most significant overhaul since its inception, opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was “struggling to keep up”. Bulk billing rates plummeted by seven per cent in the past year, and areContinue Reading
Parts of Australia’s healthcare system are “in crisis” as the government slashes Medicare-funded psychology sessions and bulk-billing rates drop across general practice. Health Minister Mark Butler has admitted general practice is in the worst shape it’s been in the 40-year history of Medicare and said the declines in bulk-billing ratesContinue Reading