Medicare rebated psychology sessions are going back down to ten, following their pandemic boost to 20. But we know ten isn’t enough for most mental health disorders.
Phobias are when fears become excessive and interrupt daily life. A new review shows one longer session of exposure is just as effective and more time-efficient than multiple shorter sessions.
Extra funding to GPs from lifting the Medicare Rebate freeze should be used to buy better data, so that future reform can be based on sound evidence.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten addressed the National Press Club on February 1 and January 31 respectively.
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
In twin speeches to the National Press Club, Labor leader Bill Shorten said bulk-billing rates are falling, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said bulk-billing is at record levels. Who was right?
Was Labor’s Catherine King right about the rising cost of GP visits?
AAP Image/Julian Smith
Shadow minister for health and medicare Catherine King said under this government, average out-of-pocket costs for GP visits are up by almost 20%. Is that true?
Was the Liberal Party right about Medicare funding?
AAP/Peter Boyle
The AMA has campaigned heavily on the Medicare rebate freeze, pointing out its potential impact on patient access if out-of-pocket costs were to increase.
Although the Coalition is largely associated with this issue, Labor first introduced the Medicare rebate freeze in 2013 as a ‘temporary’ measure.
AAP/Joel Carrett
Labor will lift the rebate freeze from 2017, while under the Coalition, GPs will be paid the same amount for delivering health services in 2020 as they were in 2014. So what does this mean for patients?
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s incendiary remarks about refugees may resonate electorally. But, as Michelle Grattan explains, they will also come at a cost.
Big spending education and health plans will form the core of Labor’s appeal to voters.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
The first debate of the election campaign, a “people’s forum” of 100 undecided voters in western Sydney that was a relatively free-flowing affair, saw Bill Shorten come out ahead. After the encounter…
New modelling shows the Medicare rebate freeze will leave GPs A$8.43 worse off per consultation.
DIBP images/Flickr
With GPs facing greater economic pressure and the health minister considering legislative change to make it easier for GP to charge them, GP co-payments, like Lazarus, may rise again from the dead.
Health minister Sussan Ley announcing the government would maintain the Medicare rebate freeze but ditch the co-payment.
LUKAS COCH/AAP
Doctors groups have warned the Coalition government’s plan to maintain the Medicare rebate freeze will means patients will have to pay more for medical services.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne