[1] Explanatory Memorandum, p.4.
[2] Minister for Health and Ageing, Second Reading Speech, 23.6.05.
[3] Minister for Health and Ageing, Second Reading Speech, 23.6.05.
[4] Explanatory Memorandum, p.1.
[5] Submissions 7, p.4 (RDAA); 11, p.1 (Public Health Association).
[6] Submission 5, p.2 (AMA).
[7] Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.1 (AMA).
[8] Submission 9, p.5, Media Release, 'Safety Net change a cruel blow to the sick and poor', 14.5.05 (CHA).
[9] Submission 4, p.1 (ACA).
[10] Submission 8, p.3 (NRHA).
[11] Submission 6, p.1 (DoHA).
[12] Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.15 (DoHA).
[13] Submission 6, p.2 (DoHA).
[14] Submission 1, p.1 (Prof Stephen Leeder).
[15] Submission 4, p.1 (ACA).
[16] Submission 9, p.5, Media Release, 'Safety Net change a cruel blow to the sick and poor', 14.5.05 (CHA).
[17] Submission 5, p.1; Committee Hansard 18.8.05, pp.4-5 (AMA).
[18] Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.6 (AMA).
[19] Submission 5, p.1; Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.6 (AMA).
[20] Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.11 (DoHA).
[21] Committee Hansard 18.8.05, p.16 (DoHA).
[22] Senate Community Affairs Committee, Additional Estimates 2004-05 17 February 2005, Answer to Question on Notice: E05-208
[23] June Quarter Medicare data available on www.health.gov.au shows that in the last year fees have increased by 9.5 per cent, with Obstetric fees increasing by 111 per cent and diagnostic services increasing by 9.7 per cent.
[24] Beth Quinlivan, Medicare Windfall BRW 4-10 August 2005
[25] Community Affairs Legisaltion Committee Hansard Thursday 18 August 2005, CA 11-12.
[26] Source – Budget 2005 Senate Estimates Hansard FPA 59
[27] Source – Budget 2005 Senate Estimates Hansard FPA ...
[28] Source: Budget 2005 Senate Estimates Hansard FPA 62
[29] The Parliamentary Library gave valuable assistance for some aspects of this report.
[30] Family First Party: Our Values, page 10
[31] Pratt, A (2005), Bills Digest: Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Safety-nets) Bill 2005. Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra. Page 2.
[32] Submission 9, page 3 (Catholic Health Australia).
[33] Minister for Health and Ageing, Second Reading Speech, 23 June 2005.
[34] Richardson, J (2005), Priorities of health policy: cost shifting or population health. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy, Vol 2 No 1.
[35] Pratt, A (2005), op cit, page 4.
[36] Explanatory Memorandum, page 1
[37] Pratt, A (2005), op cit, pages 5 and 6.
[38] Submission 6, page 1 (Department of Health and Ageing)
[39] Submission 6, page 1 (Department of Health and Ageing)
[40] Specific data is not available from the Department of Health, but an estimate can be calculated by multiplying the total average patient contribution per service for all non-hospital services, by the average number of all non-hospital services per capital per year. Medicare Statistics, Tables A5 and C1B.
[41] Submission 9, page 5 (Catholic Health Australia).
[42] Committee Hansard, 18 August 2005, page 1 (Australian Medical Association).
[43] Medicare Statistics, Table C1B
[44] The average patient contribution for patient-billed GP services in 2004–05 was $14.70 (Medicare Statistics, Table B5). From 1 November 2005, the Medicare rebate for a standard GP consultation was $26.25, but from 1 January 2005, following the implementation of the 100 per cent Medicare policy, the rebate went up to $30.85.
[45] Swerissen, H and Jordan, L (2004), Factors affecting Medicare affordability. Australian Journal of Primary Health, Vol. 10 No. 3, pages 148-149.
[46] Committee Hansard, 18 August 2005, page 14 (Department of Health and Ageing)
[47] Pratt, A (2005), op cit, page 5.
[48] Submission 5, supplementary information page 2-3 (Australian Medical Association)
[49] Submission 8, page 2 (National Rural Health Alliance)
[50] Submission 9, page 3 (Catholic Health Australia).
[51] Submission 1, page 1 (Professor Stephen Leeder)
[52] Day, S et al (2005), Strengthening Medicare: Will increasing the bulk-billing rate and supply of general practitioners increase access to Medicare-funded general practitioner services and does rurality matter? Australia and New Zealand Health Policy, Vol. 2 No. 18
[53] Submission 4, page 1 (Australian Consumers’ Association)
[54] Submission 4, page 1 (Australian Consumers’ Association)
[55] Committee Hansard, 18 August 2005, page 14 (Department of Health and Ageing)
[56] Submission 4, page 2 (Australian Consumers’ Association)
[57] Day, S et al (2005), op cit.
[58] Submission 7, pages 1-2 (Rural Doctors Association of Australia)
[59] Submission 7, pages 3 (Rural Doctors Association of Australia)
[60] Submission 8, page 3 (National Rural Health Alliance)