Medicare
What is Medicare?
Australia's Universal Health insurance scheme.
What is the PBS?
Pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
It subsidises the cost of over 5000 medications.
List 4 different local community services.
- Headspace
- Places of worship
- Recreational facilities and sporting clubs
- GPs, dentists
- Volunteer organisations
- Secondary Schools Immunisation program
List 4 examples of digital media used in healthcare.
- Telehealth
- Electronic scripts
- Websites
- Apps
-Smart watches
List 2 in-hospital expenses covered by Medicare
- Treatment
- Accomodation
Explain the NDIS and who is eligible.
- The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) provides support for people with permanent, significant disabilities and their families.
- Funded by federal and state/territory governments, it helps individuals live an ordinary life.
- To be eligible you must meet the criteria set by the government.
List 2 rights and 2 responsibilities when accessing healthcare.
- Privacy
- Respect
- Communication
- Safety
- Access
- Partnerships
-Information
Explain one opportunity presented by digital media.
- People living in remote/rural places have access health info and telehealth without long travel, saving time and money.
- Cost- Most health websites and apps are free (excluding internet/phone costs), helping those who can't afford regular appointments.
- Language barriers- Many sites offer multilingual support or can be translated online, improving accessibility.
Explain ONE advantage of Medicare and ONE disadvantage of Medicare.
Advantages:
- Available to all Australian residents and those from countries with recriprocal rights.
- Subsidises the cost of medical treatment
Disadvantages:
- Longer waiting times for procedures/appointments
- No choice of doctor
- Does not cover alternative or allied health services
It reduces the cost of medicines when someone spends over the threshold in a calendar year.
This allows those who need extra financial support to continue having access to medication.
List 4 factors affecting access to health services
- Cost
- Geographic location
- Confidentiality
- Time constraints
- Cultural factors/language barrier
- Complicated system/health literacy
Explain one challenge presented by digital media.
-Reliability- Not all online sources are accurate or trustworthy. Misinformation can be dangerous and negatively affect health decisions.
- Low health literacy- Many people lack the skills to assess online health info, increasing the risk of acting on incorrect or unsafe advice.
- Self diagnosing/self medicating- people may misdiagnose symptoms, ignore serious conditions, or delay seeking proper care. People may start using medications based on self-diagnosis which can worsen health, cause side effects, or leave serious conditions untreated.
Explain what the schedule fee is.
Explain how bulk billing works.
Bulk billing- when the doctor (or health professional) accepts the schedule fee as full payment for the service provided.
Discuss how the PBS could promote health outcomes for someone.
The PBS gives people subsidised medications.
Eg, This can increase life expectancy of those with chronic conditions.
Eg, Someone battling anxiety/depression my have reduced symptoms due to their medication being accessible. This can improve their mental H&W.
Choose a local community service and explain one way it supports youth health and wellbeing.
Sporting clubs and recreational facilities-
Being a part of a sporting club can give you a sense of belonging, increasing your spiritual health and wellbeing.
Headspace- Accessing headspace can help youth with managing stress levels, decreasing anxiety which will improve mental health and wellbeing.
Places of worship- being a part of a group of like-minded people can increase communication skills and build relationships improving social health and wellbeing.
Explain the complaints process
Step 1- Issues should be addressed with the provider first.
Step 2- If unresolved with the provider, complaints can be made to the HCC via writing, phone, or online.
HCC first decides if the complaint is within its scope or if another agency is more suitable.
List and explain the three ways that Medicare is funded.
1. Medicare levy- Australian taxpayers pay an additional 2% of their income to Medicare
2. Medicare levy surcharge- High income earners that don't have Private Health Insurance will pay an additional 1-1.5% to Medicare
3. General taxation- The Medicare levy and surcharge only partially cover the costs of the scheme, with the Australian government using general taxation revenue to make up the difference.