While our health care services are not in terminal decline, they are suffering from some chronic illnesses. Yet successive governments have examined our health care policies and done little more than slap on some sticking-plaster and send the more demanding patients away with a jellybean.

The CPD’s work tackles the inefficiency, inequity and needless complexity of our health system. We provide a platform for experts, stakeholders and citizens to share information and develop ideas to resuscitate Australia’s ailing health policies.

Melissa Sweet | Gonski review has a lot to teach the health system: Consumers Health Forum

Melissa Sweet considers the recommendations of the Gonski Report in terms of current approached to, and funding of, healthcare. She sites a statement made by Carol Bennett, CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, who highlights the aspects of the report which are relevant to Australia’s current healthcare crisis. “The cry of “nanny state” is often used to oppose public health measures that are in the public interest but threaten powerful private interests. Perhaps the cry … more

Ian McAuley | Means testing passes but do we even need health insurance?

Ian McAuley discusses the real value of private health insurance and the possibility of a fairer health care system. Read the full article published by The Conversation here “When the government finally succeeded in its third attempt to remove the 30% subsidy for high-income earners holding private health insurance, the opposition’s response was a promise to restore it should the coalition be voted into office. Tony Abbott said the rebate “is an article of faith for the Coalition. Private health … more

Sebastian Rosenberg | Stop Tinkering, Start Reforming

The government has once again failed to provide real reform in the health care debate, with those suffering a mental illness continually being disadvantaged. Sebastian Rosenberg, a senior lecturer at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, outlines how an array of economists, including CPD’s John Menadue & Ian McAuley discussion paper Private health insurance: High in cost and low in equity, have strongly criticised the government’s subsidising of private health insurance. The … more

 

Ben Eltham | Baby Steps on Health Reform

Subjecting the private health insurance rebate to a means test is a good start to more equitable – and cheaper – health policy but there’s a way to go yet, writes Ben Eltham. Subsidising private health insurance is a clumsy and wasteful way of spending money on health care. The Centre for Policy Development’s Ian McAuley and John Menadue point out in a recent paper that while private health insurers received about $16 billion in premiums last … more

Ian McAuley and John Menadue | Are Private Health Subsidies Worth It?

Is there some special reason the private health insurance industry is worthy of such robust government support? Ian McAuley and John Menadue on why it doesn’t add up. When an industry has become dependent on a subsidy, it uses every means to justify its continuation, exaggerating the consequences if it is withdrawn. Political parties join the bandwagon, and governments, whatever their ideology, feel compelled to go on providing subsidies. We’re not referring to Alcoa, Toyota or GMH. … more

Michael Janda | Experts size up effects of health rebate changes

As both sides of politics put forward their policy suggestions regarding the private health insurance rebate, little is actually being put on the table to provide Australians with an equitable health system. The Government is claiming it is a fundamental reform to boost equity, while the Opposition claim it will lead to an exodus from the private health system putting more pressure on public hospitals. Michael Janda calls on a host of experts as he … more

 

Michael Mullins | Means Test Won’t Fix Health Funding

There is little doubt that by introducing means testing for the private health insurance rebate, it will result in a small step toward social inclusion in the health care debate. However, this small step is not enough. Quoting CPD’s John Menadue and Ian McAuley from their recent discussion paper Private health insurance: High in cost and low in equity, Michael Mullins, editor of Eureka Street, states that the proposed legislation will not do much to … more

Mike Steketee | Health Rebate A Very Unfair Plan

The heavy subsidies dished out to private health insurance has increased the equity gap between those who can afford it, and those who can’t. The Howard Government’s goal of an increase in numbers in private health to ease the pressure on public hospitals has proved otherwise, with not only business going to private hospitals, but with them the professionals too. One of the starkest inequities is found in dental care. Apart from the most exceptional … more

Ross Gittins | Why health cover needs no subsidies

There are few remaining points of ideological difference between the two major parties. When it comes to the funding of healthcare, particularly private health insurance, Ross Gittins can’t see too great a difference. Gittins picks up CPD’s recent discussion paper and he writes in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: So, just as the Libs now accept the legitimacy of Medicare, so Labor now accepts the legitimacy of taxpayer-subsidised and enforced private health insurance. … more