THE FACTS:

After 16 months of deliberation by 10 health policy experts, the final report by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission was released yesterday, with PM Kevin Rudd welcoming the proposed changes to Australia’s health care.

The report has laid the foundations for the biggest overhaul to Australia’s health care system since the introduction of Medicare in the 1980’s, with plans for a full federal government takeover of health care.

It will signal the end for Medicare and replace it with a “Medicare Select” system, where Australians will be able to have more of a say, choosing from a range of plans and health packages from different providers.

It is proposed that the ability to pick and choose between health service providers will create competition within the health system and offer reduced pricing for the public.

The public will be expected to play their part in the deal, paying higher taxes to cover the new budget.

However, there is a growing belief that the radical change will see Australia’s health care turn into a benign version of the United States highly criticized ‘managed Care’ system, where health is often compromised for profits.

THE VIEWS:

Christine Bennett, chair of the commission and chief medical officer for insurer BUPA

“’Medicare Select’ will not carry the same risks and limitations as US-style ’managed care’, because it will come with guaranteed universal service levels. The central idea is you don’t lose, you only stand to gain. We are backing the idea that quasi-market forces, and the power of consumer choice, will lead to a better and more responsible delivery (of health services).’’

Kevin Rudd in a media release:

“Before the election, I made this commitment: that we would end the blame game which had gone on for too long, and that with the reform of our nation’s health and hospital system, that the buck would stop with me. I said we were determined to improve health and hospitals right across the nation, not just in a few marginal seats here and there. Our mission is to end the blame game -- for a system where the Prime Minister can and should say that the buck stops with me. And these principles define the course of action that we have now embarked upon with this report -- and the decisions the nation must take to build the health and hospital system that Australia needs for the 21st century.”

BREAKING IT DOWN:

A) The Australian Government needs to ensure steps are made to avoid the reform heading in the direction of America’s “Managed Care” System.

The United States have for a long time been known to have the world’s worst health care system. There are fears the new reform will see Australia will head in the same direction. The Rudd government needs to learn from the mistakes made in the American version and use this knowledge to implement an effective new health care system.

B) Australian citizens need to take responsibility for their own health and understand that a level of control has now been handed to them.

The reform allows the public to pick and choose between differing health care services, giving them a level of power and control over their own health. At the same time, they are expected to pay extra taxes and need to inherit a level of responsibility for their own health.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

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