Medicare
What is Medicare?
Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. It provides subsidised healthcare to all Australian citizens and countries with reciprocal agreements.
What does PBS stand for?
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Name one community service that could help with youth H&WB
E.g. doctors, hospitals, sporting clubs, headspace, places of worship, volunteer organisations.
Name one factor that can affect a young person's access to Healthcare
eg. Cost, confidentiality, time, geographic location, health literacy/complexity or cultural factors.
Receiving clear information about treatement is a right or responsibility?
Right
What is Bulk Billing?
When a doctor/specialist charges only the Schedule fee and claims payment directly from Medicare, leaving no out-of-pocket expense.
What is the main aim of the PBS?
To make essential medicines more affordable and accessible regardless of ability to pay.
Name 2 sources of digital media that can provide health information
E.g. search engines, health websites/apps, symptom checkers or telehealth.
Youth in rural/remote areas may have fewer nearby services and need to travel further.
Give one responsibility of a patient when accessing healthcare
E.g. provide accurate information, ask questions, follow reasonable instructions, report safety concerns or treat staff respectfully.
Name 2 services Medicare can cover outside hospital
E.g. GP/specialist consultations, x-rays, pathology tests or optometrist eye tests.
What is the NDIS?
A government insurance scheme providing funding for services/supports to eligible Australians with a disability.
Where can Victorians make a complaint about a health service provider?
HCC (Health complaints commissioner)
A teenager avoids a GP because they are worried their personal information will be shared. Which access factor is involved here
Confidentiality
Explain the difference between privacy and confidentiality
Privacy concerns keeping personal health information private; confidentiality means information shared in a healthcare relationship must generally not be disclosed without consent.
Explain the purpose of the Medicare Safety Net
It provides additional financial support when an individual/family has high out-of-hospital Medicare costs; after reaching a threshold, covered services become cheaper for the rest of the calendar year.
Give three examples of support NDIS may fund
Any three: personal care, transport, workplace assistance, assistive technology, home/vehicle modifications, household help, mobility equipment, speech pathology or educational support.
What does redress mean?
Remedying something judged to be wrong and/or providing compensation.
Explain how cost could affect both access to healthcare AND youth health outcomes.
High costs may discourage/delay accessing services, potentially delaying diagnosis or treatment and worsening health outcomes (PMESS or indicators)
When can health information be shared without a patients consent?
When the patient's/another person's health, wellbeing or safety is seriously threatened, or sharing could prevent/reduce a serious threat to public health or safety.
A young person regularly needs specialist appointments and tests. Explain how Medicare could improve their access to healthcare.
Medicare subsidises eligible specialist appointments/tests, reducing cost; the Safety Net may provide additional support after high out-of-hospital costs, making continued healthcare more affordable.
Explain one way NDIS can improve youth health outcomes
Subsidising essential medicines reduces financial barriers, making necessary medication more accessible and supporting treatment/management of health conditions. Could lead to increase in PMESS or Indicators
Give three outcomes of a successful health complaint
Any three: explanation, apology, treatment, access/amendment to records, refund/compensation, or policy/practice change.
Identify the three access factors in this scenario. A 17-year-old living rurally has limited transport, is low SES and is worried about what will be shared with their parents.
Geographic location, cost, confidentiality
Katy, 16, wants contraception and an STI test but does not want her mother involved. Explain how confidentiality could influence her access to healthcare
Knowing information will generally remain confidential may increase her willingness to seek care and disclose accurate information, supporting earlier and appropriate treatment.