Category Archives: private health insurance

The Federal Budget and health: what’s on the table (or not)

May 8, 2012 – 11:41 am

Below is a short summary of items related to tonight’s Federal Budget and health: what is promised/likely; what has been asked for; and what seems to be missing. What is promised/likely in the federal budget • Expansion of the national bowel cancer screening program (Some reaction to this will follow in the next post.) • [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, cancer, complementary medicines, Federal Budget 2012-2013, mental health, rural and remote health, tobacco control | Tagged , | Comments (1)

The latest wrap of Croakey’s coverage of public health, health reform and the works

April 10, 2012 – 8:37 pm

Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please send your email or leave it below. Here is the latest compilation, covering articles posted since the beginning of the year. The latest readership figures are now also available, showing that more than 39,000 [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, Food, general practice, Indigenous health, Media-related issues, Naked Doctor, physical activity, public health, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, The Conversation, tobacco control, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

What is the Danish connection between high taxes and happiness?

February 14, 2012 – 7:46 pm

Twitter recently introduced me to a US-based enterprise called Blue Zones, which says its aim is show communities, schools, businesses and individuals how to be healthier, to live longer, and to be happier. It is based upon the work of Dan Buettner, who written a popular book about “blue zones”, places known for longevity. According to this National [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in global health, mental health | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Who wants a health system designed for the better off?

February 8, 2012 – 9:15 pm

Do most Australians really want a healthcare system structured to ensure that the better off get better access to health services? Or to put it another way – designed to ensure that those most in need of health services are least likely to have access? If you doubt that this is what we have, read [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, primary health care | Tagged , , , | Comments (13)

Federal Government urged to withdraw all support for private health insurance

January 27, 2012 – 11:24 am

As the Government mounts its case for means testing of private health insurance rebates, a new report urges the Government to withdraw all support for private health insurance, on equity and efficiency grounds. The report says private health insurance should be viewed as a form of industry assistance which subsidises queue jumping. It “is administratively [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health financing and costs, Health inequalities, health reform, rural and remote health | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Are Australians willing to pay more for better oral health?

December 15, 2011 – 3:54 pm

In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) investigates a topical issue – the need for health reform to promote better oral health. Rachel Katterl writes: Late last week the Brotherhood of St Laurence released their report End the decay: The cost of poor dental [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in dental care, Health inequalities, health reform, Hospitals, primary health care, public health | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

The Ministerial reshuffle and health: plus analysis of Roxon’s tenure and advice to Plibersek

December 13, 2011 – 1:18 pm

Much of the post-shuffle focus in health has been on the new Minister, Tanya Plibersek (The Australian has her prioritising dental reform, while the Sydney Morning Herald has her bedding down the health reform agenda). But let’s not forget that many portfolios are important for health (some of which are mentioned at the bottom of [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cancer, child health, childbirth and maternity services, dental care, disabilities, e-health, education, general practice, health reform, Indigenous health, Medicare Locals, mental health, NHMRC, pharmacy, prevention, primary health care, public health, social determinants of health, TGA, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Richard Smith: tweeting the news on climate change, health and security

October 19, 2011 – 9:47 am

Richard Smith, a leader in international public health, has been tweeting about the conference held in London earlier this week on the health and security implications of climate change, as previously mentioned. Here are some of his tweets (for those without the time or inclination to wade the T-verse). The Twitter tag is #healthandsecurity.

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in climate change, environmental health, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments (1)

A wrap of recent health news at Croakey

October 5, 2011 – 5:40 pm

Hola – I am back on deck. A large thanks to Jennifer Doggett for driving Croakey while I was away, and to Ben Harris-Roxas for looking after the Twitter feed. As previously mentioned, Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, alcohol, cancer, chronic diseases, climate change, Cochrane Collaboration, complementary medicines, Croakey Register of Influencers in Public Health, diabetes, disabilities, evidence-based issues, health and medical education, health and medical research, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, health reform, health regulation, health workforce, Indigenous health, Journal articles, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues, Medicare Locals, mental health, obesity, pharmacy, prevention, primary health care, public health, quality and safety of health care, rural and remote health, social determinants of health, The Conversation, Uncategorized | Comments (2)

The private health insurance rebate: why some are fans, and others are not

August 20, 2011 – 3:28 pm

(Apologies Croakey readers – there is a gremlin in the system creating havoc with punctuation marks). Michael Roff, CEO of the Australian Private Hospitals Association, wrote strongly in support of the private health insurance rebate in Crikey recently, in response to a statement from public health leaders supporting the Government’s plans to means-test the rebate. [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in dental care, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, Hospitals | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)