THE SQUIZ
As National Cabinet comes together for the first time in 2023, managing our health system is top of the agenda covering prescription powers for pharmacists, Medicare rebates, and hospital funding. To help progress things, the Productivity Commission yesterday released a report which found Aussies are delaying or avoiding healthcare because of the cost as GPs increasingly ditch bulk-billing (aka charging consultations at the same price as the Federal Government’s Medicare rebate, making it ‘free’ for the patient). In response, the Albanese Government set up the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce last July, promising the “biggest revamp” to Medicare in history and an extra $750 million in funding. PM Anthony Albanese and his state/territory colleagues will tackle the task force’s report and recommendations today.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN GRIPES?
So the deal is that the Feds have full responsibility for Medicare (aka the rebates GPs and others get), and the states/territories run/mainly fund the public hospital system. During COVID, the Feds delivered more hospital funding via a 50:50 funding model that ended on 1 January. NSW and Victoria want that arrangement back, saying the current rate of 55% funding for hospitals is too much to bear – particularly given the pressure hospitals are under given the fall in bulk-billing to see a GP. And then there are the professionals to wrangle… The doctors want Medicare rebates to rise. Pharmacists have put their hands up to do more, irritating doctors. Allied health professionals like physiotherapists want Medicare rebates for seeing patients without a referral – again, annoying doctors. And nurses reckon they can do more without supervision, especially in rural areas. We’re generalising, but as you can see, there are a few issues to iron out…

ANYTHING ELSE AT NAT CAB?
Look at you using the lingo… There is – the crime crisis in Alice Springs will be discussed after the report by Dorrelle Anderson was digested by NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Albanese yesterday. Fyles said she wouldn’t discuss the NT Government’s response until after the report is made public – Albanese says that will happen after “cabinet consideration confirming next steps”. Still, parts of the report were revealed yesterday, like recommendations for urgent legislation for alcohol restrictions and increased financial support for frontline services. Fyles said she wants “sustainable” changes and not “Band-Aid solutions”, while Albanese promised action. “We are not giving up on Alice Springs,” he said.