Chapter 10 Health and Human

GPs

• Provide healthcare for all age groups, from infants to elderly.

• First point of contact for illness, injuries and preventative care (vaccines)

• Diagnose and manage chronic conditions (asthma), mental health and acute injuries

• Offer advice on lifestyle issues (smoking)

• Prescribe medications (antibiotics)

• Provide referrals to specialists (dermatologists, surgeons) and services (radiology, psychology)

Allied health services

• Health professionals outside the medical, dental and nursing fields

• University-qualified experts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various conditions.

• Youth may access these services for mental health, injury recovery or nutriton.

• Often not fully covered by Medicare

• Improves health and wellbeing (treating injuries, reducing anxiety, reconnecting socially)

• Examples: Psychology, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Podiatry, Optometry, Pharmacy, Chiropractic, Counselling

Alternative Health Services

• Acupuncture, massage, yoga, Pilates, and Chinese medicine.

• Used instead or alongside traditional healthcare

• Potential benefits include stress relief, improved mental health and enhanced spiritual wellbeing.

Medicare

• Australia’s universal health insurance scheme.

• It provides subsidised healthcare to all Australians and permanent residents, and people from countries with reciprocal agreements.

• Out-of-hospital services covered by Medicare: Gp and specialist consultations, X-Rays, blood tests, eye tests by optometrists, treatment and accommodation in public hospitals.

• Medicare will also cover Mental Health Treatment Plans which provide up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions with a psychologist within a 12-month period. The patient will need to be referred by a GP.

• Medicare will also cover specialist services, including dermatologist and cardiologists.

• Medicare covers 85% of the schedule fee for specialists

MBS, Bulk billing, patient co-payment

• The Medicare Benefits Schedule lists covered services and the schedule fee. The schedule fee relates to what the government deems to be a fair amount for various services and what Medicare will contribute.

• Bulk Billing: No out-of-pocket cost if a doctor charges only the schedule fee.

• Patient co-payment: Patients pay the difference if doctors charge more than the schedule fee.

Medicare Safety Net

• Provides extra financial assistance for those that incur significant out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services

• Once an individual or family has contributed a certain amount of their own pocket to Medicare services in a calendar year, further financial support is provided by the government, making Medicare services cheaper for the remainder of that year.

Medicare Hospital Treatment

• As a public patient in a public hospital, accommodation and treatment by doctors and specialists is covered by Medicare, including initial treatment and aftercare.

• If an individual chooses to go to a private hospital, Medicare will pay 75% of the schedule fee for treatment by doctors and specialists, but will not contribute to accommodation or other costs, such as theatre fees and medication.

Advantages and disadvantages of medicare

Disadvantages:

• No choice of doctor for in-hospital treatments

• Long Waiting lists for many treatments

• Does not cover alternative therapies

Advantages:

• Choice of doctor for out-of-hospital services

• Available to all Australian citizens

• Reciprocal agreement, allowing Australians to access free healthcare in selected countries

• Covers tests and examinations, doctor’s and specialists’ fees (schedule fee only), and some procedures such as X-rays and eye tests.

Funding of Medicare

1. The Medicare levy: Is an additional 2 per cent tax placed on the taxable income of tax payers. Those with low incomes or with specific circumstances may be exempt from paying the levy.

2. People without private health insurance earning more than a certain amount ($97000 a year for indivduals and $194000 for families) have to pay an extra tax called the Medicare levy surcharge. This ranges from 1-1.5% and increases as income increases.

3. The revenue collected from the Medicare levy and the Medicare levy surcharge does not meet the full operating costs of Medicare and, as a result, income collected through general taxation is also used to help fund it.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

• The PBS is the Federal Government’s subsidy scheme for essential medicines.

• As of 1 January 2026, the patient co-payment for most PBS-subsidised medication was $25.00, or $7.00 for concession card holders with the government meeting the remaining cost.

• The PBS covers over 5000 brands of prescription medicine, including different brands of the same drug.

• The PBS Safety Net reduces costs for individuals and families. After spending $1,647.90 in a calendar year on PBS-listed medicines, patients pay a concessional rate of $7.70 instead of $25

• New medicines can only be listed if the PBAC finds them clinically effective, safe, and cost effective

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (The NDIS)

• Provides support for people with permanent, significant disabilities and their families.

• Funded by the federal/territory government, it helps individuals live an ordinary life.

• Eligibility requirements: Must be under 65 years when applying, must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and must have a lifelong impairment that significantly limits participation and requires ongoing support.

• The NDIS helps individuals transport, workplace assistance or assistive technologies, help with household tasks, mobility equipment, speech pathology and educational support

Local Community Services that promote health and wellbeing

Doctors/dentists/hospitals, sports/recreational clubs, headspace, places of worship, volunteer organisations, secondary school immunisation program.

Doctors, dentists, hospitals

• Offer treatment for illness, injury and specialist referrals

• Support physical and mental health (access to dentists, psychologists)

• Dental and orthodontic care improves physical health and self-esteem.

Sports and recreational clubs

• Promote physical fitness, healthy weight, and immune function.

• Support emotional and spiritual wellbeing through belonging and identity and working to improve yourself

• Encourage social connections, resilience and mental health

Headspace

• Youth mental health services for 12-25 year olds

• Offers low-cost access to GPs, psychologists, social workers

• Supports mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing through early intervention

Places of Worship

• Provide emotional support, shared values, and sense of purpose.

• Support social, emotional, and spiritual health and wellbeing

• Create networks and meaningful community involvement

Volunteer organisations

• Offer first aid at events and community training

• Volunteers gain skills, friendships and a sense of purpose

• An example is the St Johns Ambulance Service

Secondary School Immunisations program

• Delivers free vaccines at school via local council

• Improves access and immunisation rates

• Supports physical and mental health by preventing disease and reducing stress

Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

• Outlines the rights of all people accessing healthcare in Australia

• Ensures care is safe, high quality, and consistent across all settings

• Aims to promote shared understanding between patients, families and healthcare providers

• Available in many languages, braille and audio to improve accessibility.

Guiding Principles of Charter

1. Everyone has the right to access healthcare

2. Supports international human rights and the right to highest standard of health

3. Respects Australia’s cultural diversity and differences

My Rights

• Access: I can access services to address my healthcare needs

• Safety: I receive safe and high-quality healthcare services

• Respect: I have a right to be shown respect, dignity and consideration

• Partnership: I have the right to ask questions, and have open and honest communication.

• Information: I have the right to clear information about my condition, and the benefits and risks of treatment, and I will be told if things do not go as planned.

• Privacy: I have a right to privacy and confidentiality of my personal information

• Give feedback: I have the right to voice my concerns/make a complaint and have them dealt when them in a timely manner.

Patient Responsibilities

• Provide information about their past and present illnesses, medications and other matters relating to their health history

• Ask questions when they do not understand explanations given about the risks and benefits of the proposed healthcare, treatment or procedures.

• Follow the instructions and medical orders of their doctors, nurses and medical support staff to bring about the best outcomes from treatment.

• Treat medical staff with respect

Privacy and Confidentiality

• Privacy: Means that all information relating to a patient, including personal details and any stored information, must not be shared.

• Confidentiality: Means that anything discussed between a doctor and a patient must be kept private

My Health Record

• A digital summary of health data (medicare, prescription, test results, etc)

• Aims to improve access to health information for patients and providers

• Patients can choose what to share with new healthcare providers.

Privacy Exemptions

• There is a serious threat to the patient’s or another person’s health or safety.

• It will help prevent or reduce a serious threat to public health (disease outbreak)