Chapter 2
Key issues
2.1
In general, witnesses and submitters supported the intent of the Bill
(see chapter one) but expressed concerns with either the proposed cap on
expenses that can accumulate toward the safety net threshold or the proposed
cap on safety net benefits. These matters are discussed below.
Justification for the New Medicare Safety Net
2.2
Some witnesses and submitters acknowledged the rationale and evidence
base identified by the Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health (Minister),
for reform of the current safety net arrangements.[1]
Dr Lesley Russell (appearing in a private capacity) told the committee:
...reforms to the Medicare Safety Net arrangements are long
overdue. There is considerable evidence that the current arrangements are
inequitable, do not benefit those with the greatest need and continue to be
inflationary. This has led to increasing economic pressures on patients from
rising out-of-pocket costs, with consequences for their health outcomes,
quality of life and hospital budgets.[2]
2.3
Professor Kees Van Gool, Deputy Director of the Centre for Health
Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE), and an author of the two Extended
Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) reviews, stated:
...the reforms are a step in the right direction because they
no longer reward highly excessive fees. They will simplify how the caps are set
and the lowering [of] the threshold for concession card holders is likely to
benefit more lower income households as well as singles. However, for these
reforms to be more effective, we need greater transparency on fees and the fees
charged by doctors. The reforms will place greater onus on competition
and, for competition to work, patients in particular need information about the
fees that doctors charge.[3]
2.4
Professor Van Gool suggested that patients and general practitioners
(GPs) should be provided with information on fees before a referral is written
for specialist service:
...a very simple way would be to make that sort of information
available on the internet. Providers would not have to provide their personal
details. But you could get an average charge for item 104, which is an
initial specialist consultation, on the internet for a particular postcode.
That at least would put some knowledge in the GP's hands about whether the
specialist they are referring to actually does bill in line with that average.[4]
2.5
The committee understands that Professor Van Gool was proposing
'an information tool' based on data that is currently held by the
Department of Health (Department) and various other agencies, either at an
aggregate or local level.[5]
The committee considers that this could be a useful means of assisting
patients and their GPs to determine, and choose to utilise, an affordable
service.[6]
The committee notes:
Minister Ley has publicly signalled her interest in this
area, and the department is undertaking some investigation into it...it is
probably a longer-term agenda, because it is going to require quite
considerable discussion with the professions involved, consideration of privacy
issues, and so on. But, certainly, from a policy standpoint an approach to
preventing fee inflation is more transparency in fee charging.[7]
New Medicare Safety Net Threshold
2.6
Proposed section 10DC of the Bill proposes three new thresholds, two of
which are lower than the existing EMSN thresholds.[8]
The Department estimated that the lower thresholds will enable an additional
53,000 people to access benefits under the new Medicare Safety Net.[9]
Overall, this means there will be a relative shift towards
concessional access and increased access for single people without concession
cards. In addition, it is expected the accumulation benefit arrangements
will mean the proportion of benefits flowing to people currently charged up to
150 per cent of the current MBS Fee will increase, meaning a greater share of
safety net benefits for those in lower socioeconomic areas.[10]
Ability to reach the new threshold
2.7
Submitters and witnesses supported lowering the safety net thresholds. However,
in view of proposed section 10P, which would limit the total amount of out‑of‑pocket
expenses for a service that can accumulate toward the threshold, witnesses expressed
concerns about people's ability to meet the new threshold.[11]
2.8
Professor Van Gool, for example, highlighted the two countervailing effects:
...on the one hand, the lowering of the thresholds—having lower
thresholds for singles as well as generous rules for defining a family will
lead to more people qualifying; on the other hand, the limitation on the
out-of-pocket costs that contribute to the thresholds will make it harder to
qualify.[12]
2.9
Dr Bastian Seidel, representing the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners (RACGP), agreed that, in respect of general practice
consultations, it will be more difficult to reach the new threshold:
Currently, it would take, let's say, [around] about 16
consultations before you reach the safety net covered by the general practice
consultation; under the proposed bill it would be 21 visits.[13]
2.10
According to witnesses, the practical effect of not reaching the new
Medicare Safety Net threshold is that a person would not qualify for this financial
assistance with their out-of-pocket costs, making healthcare more expensive and
perhaps not affordable.
More equitable distribution of
benefits
2.11
The Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights in the Explanatory
Memorandum (EM) to the Bill notes that benefits under the new Medicare Safety
Net would be 'more equitably distributed between socio-economically advantaged
and disadvantaged areas'.[14]
2.12
Some witnesses considered it difficult to gauge who would benefit
from the measure proposed in the Bill—sometimes due to a lack of
published data and modelling—and whether the Bill would result in a more
progressive distribution of safety net benefits.[15]
2.13
Professor Van Gool questioned whether the Bill would lead to a change in
the type of people who qualify for a rebate under the new Medicare Safety Net,
noting that the Bill would likely have some redistributive effect toward
lower income households:
The answer depends on how many concession card families
experience annual costs between $400 and $638 and the general families with out‑of‑pocket
costs between $1,000 and $2,000 because these are the people who stand to
benefit under the new arrangements. If there are more people in the former, in
the concession card group, than in the latter, I would expect a change in
the threshold could lead to a more progressive distribution of safety net
benefits—that is, the safety net benefits should be more going towards poorer
communities or less wealthy areas. It should be noted that concession card
status is a poor proxy for household income. There are many poor households who
do not have concession cards and there are many wealthy families who do...I do
think that the lowering of the threshold for concession card holders is likely
to benefit more lower income households, as well as singles. That should have
some redistributive effect on where the safety net benefits are going.[16]
2.14
Professor Van Gool indicated that capping the total amount of out‑of‑pocket
expenses for a service that can accumulate toward the threshold would also
impact how many and what type of families qualify for safety net benefits:
To some extent, this part of the reform will disadvantage
those who seek services where the doctor fees are substantially above the
Medicare Benefits Schedule [(MBS)]fee but should have less impact on those who
see doctors who charge within the 150 per cent of the MBS fee. This reform may
invoke a number of changes on behalf of doctors and patients seeking to derive
maximum benefits from the safety net, in particular create greater incentives
for patients to seek out doctors who charge within the 150 per cent of the
Medicare schedule fee. This in turn may invoke some more price competition
amongst doctors. Another potential impact is that doctors may redistribute
their fees across items so that the fees across an episode of care are better
in line with the inherent incentives of the policy. Of course another
potential impact is that they may increase the volume of services or try to
increase the demand for the volume of services.[17]
2.15
Dr Dion Forstner, Dean of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology at the Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), rejected any suggestion
that the Bill would affect only those in socio‑economically advantaged
areas:
...a significant number of patients that access radiation
therapy come from a low-socioeconomic group...with private centres as the only
accessible centres in some areas, those of lower socioeconomic status do access
the private sector and would be impacted by a need to pay a larger gap.[18]
2.16
Dr Forstner added that the need to pay higher out‑of‑pocket
costs would create 'some movement of patients from the private to the public
sector', with consequences for the viability of private practices and the subsequent
impact on public centres.[19]
Department response
2.17
The Department informed the committee that 'the design of the new
Medicare safety net is evidence based'. In particular, the findings of the
two independent reviews have been used to set the parameters for the safety
net, informed also by current Medicare data.[20]
2.18
In its submission, the Department provided data about the current
distribution of EMSN benefits, highlighting that there continues to be inequity
in the distribution of these benefits across geographical areas, including by
remoteness areas and based on the socio-economic index for areas (SEIFA). For
example, according to SEIFA, Decile 10 (most advantaged) received 30.4 per cent
of EMSN expenditure in 2013–14, compared to Decile 1 (least advantaged) which
received 2.2 per cent of EMSN expenditure for the same period.[21]
2.19
The Department also set out some data in relation to the impact of the
Bill on three particular services:
-
radiation oncology services—an additional 1,000 people (including
800 concession card holders) will receive safety net benefits under the new
arrangements due to lower thresholds;
-
psychiatry services—an additional 2,300 people will receive
safety net benefits for psychiatry services; and
-
assisted reproductive technology— the vast majority of patients will
not be financially impacted for their first IVF cycle but will receive about
$850 less for the second IVF cycle.[22]
2.20
The Department submitted that GP services currently account for only 0.7
per cent of EMSN expenditure, as fees for these services are generally low and there
is a high bulk billing rate (91.3 per cent for concession card holders). This
means that concession card holders are unlikely to be affected by the Bill.
Further:
The majority of people receiving safety net benefits for a GP
service have qualified for benefits from specialist services that year. In
relation to qualifying for the EMSN via GP visits only, a concessional person,
charged the 2014 average fee of $67.80, would qualify on their 21st service.
Under the new arrangements the same person would qualify on their 22nd service.[23]
2.21
The estimates were based on current patterns of safety net use and
charging by clinicians (specialists). However, the Department emphasised that
the enactment of the Bill is expected to change these behaviours:
...we actually expect that fee-charging behaviour will change.
Fee-charging behaviour changed when the new safety net was introduced...
With the changes in the incentives that this bill brings
forward, we would expect to see, again, a shift back, a changing in the pattern
of charging by specialists. But, assuming that that does not change,
80,000-plus more concessionals will obtain benefits. We think that that number
could be larger, and we think that the losses that would be predicted to non‑concessionals
could actually be lower if fee-charging behaviour actually does change.[24]
Medical Benefits Schedule Review
2.22
Some witnesses referred to the fluid environment in which the Bill has
been introduced and, in particular, to the Medical Benefits Schedule Review
(MBS Review) that was announced by the Government in the 2015–16 Budget.[25]
It was argued that the introduction of the Bill is premature, as the MBS Review
is not due to report to the Minister until December 2015 (an interim report)
and December 2016 (the final report containing recommendations).[26]
2.23
For example, Dr Forstner told the committee that his organisation is
concerned about the number of major changes concurrently affecting the small
specialty of radiation oncology, without any apparent coordination:
The safety net change is just one of those. We are awaiting
the outcome of a review by the National Audit Office on Radiation Oncology
Health Program Grants, which are fundamental to the replacement of our
equipment—so capital expenditure. We obviously have the MBS review, which we
are very keen to participate in...We have had two major [Medicare Services
Advisory Committee] applications in for several years now[.][27]
2.24
Dr Forstner indicated that, if the outcome of the MBS Review were a
modernisation of MBS fees such that they recognised the cost of providing
treatments, then RANZCR would be more inclined to support the Bill and, in
particular, the 150 per cent safety net benefits cap.[28]
2.25
The committee heard from the Department that the Bill has been
introduced separate to the MBS Review, and other reviews, as the proposed
legislation deals with a 'separate and different kind of problem'. An officer emphasised
that the Bill focuses on 'access and costs in relation to patients', rather
than clinical efficacy which is the focus of the MBS review. Further:
...the safety net was never implemented with a consideration
that it was a tool to support the income of clinicians. The safety net was
implemented with the view that it was a tool to prevent excessive cost to
patients. The real problem about where we are now and why we are here now
with this legislation is that it has become a tool which is about income for
clinicians, and that is corrupting the purpose of the safety net, and we now
have a significant problem to solve.[29]
2.26
The Department noted that the Bill also has a role to play in the
development of longer-term policy and healthcare reform:
...implementation of the Medicare safety net changes now will
provide transparency and certainty, which can then be taken into consideration
by longer-term work programmes of the MBS Review Taskforce and the Primary
Health Care Advisory Group.[30]
Increased provider fees
2.27
The committee notes evidence that suggests provider fees have been noticeably
influenced by changes to the EMSN. Dr Russell told the committee that the main
driver of out‑of‑pocket costs are specialist fees and, in the past 10
years, the data tells a 'story of pressures and policy influences':
Although the average bulk-billing rate has barely changed for
specialists, the average out-of-pocket costs have more than doubled, from
$32.66 to $70.89. For individual specialties there have been some dramatic
changes. Most obviously, the bulk-billing rates for obstetrics—currently 51.5
per cent—was only 21.8 per cent in the June quarter of 2005. We can assume that
this is due to the increases in the Medicare reimbursements that were made as
part of an effort to tackle the inappropriate use of the Extended Medicare
Safety Net. The bad news is that those obstetricians who do not bulk bill have
continued to increase their fees and the patient's average contribution has
risen from $51.75 in 2005 to $247.79 today.[31]
2.28
Professor Van Gool similarly noted that the 2011 review found that the
introduction of capping arrangements in 2010 had a number of unintended effects
on charging practices:
We found evidence of providers changing their fee structures—reducing
fees for capped items but increasing them for uncapped items. The review found
evidence of this among providers of plastic and reconstructive surgery services.
In addition, the review found evidence of an increase in doctor fees of
uncapped items that were complementary to capped items. As the out-of-hospital
fees for the cataract surgery items were falling, the provider fees for
anaesthesia for linked surgery increased substantially. The new safety net will
make it harder for these effects to take place. The shift in billing
practice between capped and uncapped items should no longer occur under the
reforms.[32]
2.29
The Department also commented on EMSN expenditure over the period
2004–2014, highlighting that 'in some areas, this expenditure is continuing to
increase rapidly as a result of increases in the fees charged by providers'
(see Table 2.1).[33]
Table 2.1: Extended Medicare Safety Net expenditure,
2004–2014
Source: Department of Health, Submission 18, p. 9.
2.30
The Department advised that, by 2019–2020, EMSN expenditure is projected
to reach the same level as before capping was introduced. Its submission
contained a useful comparison of this projection and the new Medicare Safety
Net estimated expenditure (Figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1: Extended Medicare Safety Net expenditure and
new Medicare Safety Net expenditure (projected), 2014–2020
Source: Department of Health, Submission 18, p. 10.
2.31
The committee heard that, subsequent to the introduction of caps on some
MBS items in 2010, there was some moderation in those providers' fees. However,
for uncapped MBS items—such as radiation oncology where fees significantly
increased in 2013–14—fee inflation and a corresponding increase in
out-of-pocket costs is now being observed.[34]
2.32
The Department submitted:
The introduction of safety net benefit caps for all MBS items
is expected to have a moderating effect on fee inflation, as demonstrated after
the introduction of capping on obstetrics and other services, such as eye
injections.
...one of the main incentives for fee inflation was the ability
for people to cross the threshold of the EMSN in a single high fee service. The
new Medicare safety net will respond to this issue by introducing a cap on the
amount per service that can count towards the threshold.[35]
Interaction between Medicare
Benefits Schedule fees and the Bill
2.33
Some witnesses and submitters raised the issue of MBS fees and how the
current fee levels might interact with the proposal to introduce a 150 per cent
cap on benefits under the new Medicare Safety Net. Essentially, these witnesses
argued that it would no longer be financially viable to continue to provide
some services, as the MBS does not recognise the costs of providing the service
and there would be no capacity to recover those costs through the new Medicare
Safety Net.[36]
2.34
For example, Dr Forstner gave the following evidence:
The MBS items are well underfunded. They have not been
changed in many years, and they have not kept up at all with the changing
technology that has occurred over the last 15 years. We have long been aware
that, for a private centre to keep its head above water, there needs to be in
excess of the schedule fee charged, and we believe that most of that safety net
component, which I think is about 13 per cent of what the MBS pays to radiation
oncology, is in fact due to the inadequate reimbursements rather than any sort
of scheming or manipulation of the system.[37]
2.35
GenesisCare, the largest provider of radiation oncology in Australia, made similar
comments regarding the current level of MBS fees. Its evidence suggested that
evidence based MBS fees—potentially to be delivered though the MBS Review—could
work in tandem with the 150 per cent benefits limit proposed in the Bill:
The MBS is out of date and in many cases does not reflect
cost of service provision. As such, a flat cap of 150 per cent, in many cases,
puts federal funding well below the cost of service delivery. The safety net
has provided a mechanism for private providers to manage these funding inequities
to date. We are keen to work with the department to resolve these funding
inequities through the MBS review; however, to cap benefits ahead of the review
is unsustainable.[38]
2.36
In response to these concerns, an officer from the Department emphasised
that the measure in the Bill is patient focussed:
...consultation with various professions has highlighted that
the top-up to the MBS rebate provided by the safety net has masked the
dissatisfaction of some providers with the underlying MBS item fee structure and
other aspects of remuneration...the safety net is not a reimbursement or
remuneration policy; it is a policy to protect the patients.[39]
New Medicare Safety Net benefits cap
2.37
Proposed section 10R proposes to limit the total rebate on all MBS items
to 150 per cent of the MBS fee for that service (the current cap for some
services is 300 per cent). Some witnesses argued that the proposed provision
will make services more expensive for patients, as not all out‑of‑pocket
costs will be rebated.[40]
The committee heard that this would especially affect patients with high
medical needs—such as multiple, complex and chronic conditions.[41]
2.38
Mr Keith Hansen, the Executive Manager of Cancer Care for GenesisCare,
told the committee that the safety net is the only insurance available to
patients who are not treated in the public health system:
With higher out-of-pocket costs, the legislation will...reduce
the incentive for patients to utilise private services, where they are
currently making a meaningful and direct contribution towards the cost of their
care...The outcome of the policy will be that more patients will be forced
to seek care in the public hospital system, where capacity is already limited
and care is often more expensive to deliver. In many cases, this will mean
longer wait times, increased travel burden and some patients not receiving
treatment, which will result in adverse health and social outcomes. When taken
together, it is highly likely that this policy will, in fact, increase costs
across the healthcare system.[42]
2.39
The Department did not agree with this assessment of the public health
system, telling the committee:
...60 per cent of radiation oncology is provided in the public
system. There was a report last week by the [Australian Institute for Health
and Welfare] that accessibility is high and waiting times are low for the
public system. Of the remaining 40 per cent, about [seven] in 10 of those
services are provided by GenesisCare—so about [28] in every 100 are provided by
GenesisCare, and they have been growing very rapidly.
I do not have any particular problem with that. It is just to
point out that the main alternative to GenesisCare now is not another private
provider; the main alternative is a public provider and that they provide
good-quality care, accessibility and timeliness.[43]
2.40
Mr Andrew Paine, the Senior Analyst for Economics at RANZCR,
expressed similar concern that the safety net benefits cap will
disadvantage patients with chronic medical needs, as most patients will have
reached the 150 per cent cap by the time they need to access radiation therapy
(particularly in the area of breast cancer). Mr Paine argued that, in seeking
to increase access to safety net benefits through lower thresholds, funds have
been redirected away from the benefit amount with the proposed cap:
People will reach the threshold earlier, but it is the
chronic patients we are concerned about—the ones with cancers for which there
are...huge Medicare expenditures or medical bills. It seems like the funding is
going to be transferred away from those chronic patients towards other people
to allow them to hit the threshold earlier.[44]
2.41
Dr Michael Daubney from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
Psychiatrists (RANZCP) highlighted concern for the continued treatment of patients
who require intensive psychotherapy services:
People with mental illness remain a particularly
disadvantaged group in our community. They suffer lower life expectancy, poorer
employment and education outcomes and frequently experience discrimination in a
wide range of areas. It is our belief that the bill, as it is proposed, will unintentionally
discriminate against those most in need of intensive psychotherapy and
therefore exacerbate the poor mental health of a small but important group of
Australians.[45]
2.42
In respect of intensive psychiatric treatment, Dr Shirley Prager,
President of the National Association of Practising Psychiatrists (NAPP), told
the committee that patients might not be able to continue treatment if the Bill,
as currently drafted, is enacted:
We are concerned that [patients] will not be able to afford
the $200 or more per week for out-of-pocket expenses. Their psychiatrists will
not be able to lower their fees, because they will not be able to cover their
overheads and make a living. There is likely to be an increase in suicides and
homicides. Patients who are able to [function] with this treatment are likely
to be unable to work, and will be likely to go onto the disability pension.
There may also be increased security risks, particularly in adolescent
patients.[46]
2.43
The Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia), NAPP, RANZCP
and GenesisCare supported legislative exemptions for certain MBS items, to
enable continuity of access to services for patients who would not be able to
afford treatment if the Bill were enacted with a 150 per cent cap on safety net
benefits.[47]
2.44
The committee heard that GenesisCare had earlier proposed a temporary 195
per cent cap for radiation oncology MBS items. Mr Hansen explained:
This amendment has the benefits of maintaining access to
patient care, protecting the government against any potential future price
increases, and delivering the bulk of budget savings. We earnestly request
a temporary cap be implemented for radiation oncology so we can actively
support what we believe is a reasonable and necessary change in policy. By
working with the government and the medical profession through the MBS review,
we can unlock real efficiency and innovation in the healthcare system,
which will drive long-term sustainability and improve health outcomes.[48]
2.45
Ms Josephine Root, Policy Manager for the Consumers Health Forum of
Australia, told the committee that, in the absence of modelling, it is
difficult to determine precisely what cap percentage might be appropriate, to
ensure access to healthcare:
You would have to look at the 150 per cent figure if you were
wanting to get a better [health] outcome and...you need to look at what people
are actually paying. It is tricky to quickly come up with something which is
going to work better unless we can have a closer look at what people are
actually paying. I think more work needs to be done on the modelling and the
rationale for the 150 per cent. I have not seen it in detail; I would like to see
it.[49]
2.46
The committee notes that the Department consulted some stakeholder
groups following the budget announcement of the new Medicare Safety Net measure[50]
and that the arguments presented by stakeholders were considered by Government
prior to the Bill's introduction into Parliament.[51]
2.47
GenesisCare was one of these stakeholders and, in relation to its
capping proposal, the Department concluded:
...that the current measure is the best one to go forward with.
The essential problem is that the more you raise the cap, the higher the costs
and the greater the inflationary impact will be. We are looking for behaviour
change from the clinicians...We have looked at a range of options for advice to
the minister and the government. This is quite a wicked problem. ...we are satisfied
that the arrangements are simpler, more progressive and less inflationary than
the existing arrangements; therefore, better and superior. Patients will find
them a lot easier to understand, so will clinicians, and they will have a less
inflationary impact.[52]
Committee view
2.48
The objective of the EMSN is to provide financial assistance to families
and singles whose out‑of‑pocket healthcare costs reach an annual
threshold. Evidence presented to the committee showed that, over more than
10 years, this program has achieved inequitable and inflationary outcomes,
failing to deliver affordable access to high quality healthcare. The Bill
proposes to remedy this situation and, in the process, eliminate complexities
and inconsistencies that have arisen within the Medicare safety nets. The
committee therefore supports the introduction of the new Medicare Safety Net,
as proposed in the Bill.
2.49
The committee acknowledges however that various stakeholders have
concerns about the proposed measure. To some degree, the lack of publicly
available data and modelling on the impact of the measure has caused
unnecessary angst and confusion. The committee notes that there is an evidence
base to support the Bill, some details of which were provided only on the
request of the committee. The committee considers that the imminent
introduction of a new safety net with fundamental parameter changes warrants
explanation as to its anticipated effect and that the EM to the Bill should be
amended accordingly.
2.50
A particular issue to emerge from the evidence was that there is a great
deal of uncertainty about how the new Medicare Safety Net will operate and
whether it will achieve its stated objectives. The committee considers that it
would be highly beneficial to review these matters no more than five years
after commencement of the program, so that any shortcomings can be quickly
identified and resolved.
2.51
The committee makes the following recommendations:
Recommendation 1
2.52
The committee recommends that the Department of Health amend the
Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill, to explain the data and modelling
underpinning the Bill, particularly the anticipated impact of the Bill on the
Australian community.
Recommendation 2
2.53
The committee recommends that the Bill be amended, to include a review of
the operation and outcomes of the new Medicare Safety Net no later than
1 January 2021.
Recommendation 3
2.54
The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Senator Zed Seselja
Chair
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