Should the cross-benchers support means testing of the private health insurance rebate? Amanda Biggs analyses the proposal and the impact of the rebate on hospitals.
Health
Unpicking alarmist headlines about bowel cancer in young people
In recent days, the audiences of reputable media outlets have been warned of an “alarming” increase in bowel cancer in young people. It’s time to unpick those headlines.
Health: $1.5b for more targeted mental health services
Mental health advocates finally have the big-ticket funding package they’ve long campaigned for, with a co-ordinated $2.2 billion suite of initiatives to support patients and identify those most at risk.
How to improve Indigenous patients’ access to medicines
For years it’s been a struggle for indigenous patients in remote communities to access PBS medicines, but efforts are finally being made to improve this significant underuse of the scheme. Dr Noel Hayman outlines the initiative.
Our fiscal props: financial services and mining
Quick - what’s the biggest sector of the Australian economy? The answer reveals a lot about what’s happened since 2001, and what will happen in the next recession.
Mental health: a continuing history of neglect
Chronic disease prevention is gathering increasing steam, at a national and international level. So why is mental health not part of this agenda? asks Richard Eckersley.
Health funding faces the chop but has Carr saved science?
Budget cut speculation is centring on the Health portfolio, with big cuts rumoured for medical research. But other areas look safer.
‘Location disadvantage’ experiment yields results in Miller
“Locational disadvantage” has an enormous impact on the lives of residents in many Australian suburbs. But an experiment in Sydney’s 2168 postcode area is yielding results.
How medical, nursing unions are blocking rural health solution
In a few months, the University of Queensland will graduate the country’s first crop of home-grown physician assistants, but it is far from clear whether they will find jobs.
Australia’s mixed economy — why health and education reform matters
When it comes to employment, Australia’s is a mixed economy dominated by one employer — the state.
Health and the hollowing-out of the economy
The real “hollowing out” of the Australian economy is likely to come from the health sector, which is our biggest employer and one of our fastest growing.
Who has snagged @medicarelocal and www.medicarelocal.com.au?
Who had been so canny as to secure a spot in cyberspace for medicarelocal.com.au? asks Melissa Sweet. Apparently the Eastern Ranges GP Association had the foresight to grab a Twitter account name and web domain in the Medicare Local name.
Mendoza: The lack of mental health funding is killing our citizens
John Mendoza, former Chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health attacks the systematic failures of mental health care in this country, saying that facilities are grossly underfunded and suicide has become a serious national issue.
A mega-wrap of analysis of the Medicare Locals plans
In part three of a series analysing the Government’s plans for the new primary health care organisations to be known as Medicare Locals, a range of Croakey contributors share their views.
How the TGA could improve its media relationship
An independent review examining how the TGA could become more open and accountable in providing information to the public, including via the media, is coming up and Melissa Sweet summarises the submission from Croakey, Crikey’s health blog.
We need your quad bike mishap stories
The typical story you hear relating to farm injuries is one of doom and gloom when a misfortunate farmer, worker or sometimes a child, has died or suffered serious lifelong injuries as a result of an accident. Thankfully this is not one of those stories, writes Tony Lower.
Political snippets: Playing at being an equal player
Call me old-fashioned or just old if you like; I cannot remember an occasion in my 50 plus years as a journalist when I called a politician by his first name during a public interview.
The sugar bomb is ticking away dangerously
The line-up of Heart Foundation tick-approved products will now include some of the highest sugar breakfast cereals on sale in Australia, writes David Gillespie.
How do the new food labelling recommendations measure up?
Will companies who make quality products voluntarily use green dots and that could push others to follow? Possibly, but don’t hold your breath waiting to see any red dots on food labels, writes nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton.
Labor is still managing to trash its brand
Labor’s reputation on the issues that influence voting intention continues to worsen.
Journalists helping journalists: it does happen
The US Association of Health Care Journalists offers a useful service to members, where those who are researching stories put out calls to colleagues for suggestions about useful contacts or story ideas. Can you imagine this in Australia? asks Melissa Sweet.
Health policy: who is on the best-read list?
Australian Policy Online has just published a list of its five most read reports and commentary pieces in the health area for 2010. Melissa Sweet offers up some holiday reading.
The federal Health Department’s document dump
What does the Department of Health and Ageing’s brief to the incoming government tell us about the state-of-play on health reform? Questions about the detail and implementation of reform remain unanswered, particularly regarding primary health care, reports Rebecca de Boer.
travel The slums of Phnom Penh: working with child drug users
At one stage I counted ten young street children injecting heroin in the ally around me. Monks slowly walked by on their morning alms. For a Westerner it was an unexpected juxtaposition, writes Allan Soultaris from Cambodia.
Is the new National Preventative Health Agency facing bureaucratic capture?
Discontented rumblings from public health advocates suggest that questions about the form and direction of the Australian Government’s commitment to preventative health extend beyond the nitty-gritty of diabetes care plans and Medicare Locals, writes Margo Saunders.
