60-day scrips can mean fewer trips to the pharmacist and lower costs. But only one in five eligible scripts are for a 60-day supply. Here’s what’s going wrong.
Australians will save on the costs of scripts and on GP visits. But the budget doesn’t start the reforms needed to secure the health system’s long-term future.
The PM says the PBS is not up for negotiation, while the opposition leader says it’s the envy of the world. But how did we get this system, and how does it compare?
If Australia followed England’s lead and listed drugs such as Wegovy on the PBS for weight loss, this could bring the cost down from around $500 a month to $31.60.
Fewer than half of Australians are always bulk billed when they see a GP. Labor’s Medicare plan, which the Coalition has promised to match, could turn this around.
The funding has been billed as a way to shorten waits for care in emergency departments and for elective surgery. But will it really make a difference?
Some communities have too few GPs to ensure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it. Whoever wins the federal election should commit to fixing this.
PBMs control which drugs insurers cover, for how much and for whom.
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As the middlemen between drug companies and insurers, PBMs are shoo-ins as the villains behind high drug prices. But they do play a useful role in the health marketplace.
The price of the doctor’s visit you calculated online might not reflect what you’ll actually be billed.
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While some policies have made the price of certain health care services more transparent, they don’t guarantee patients won’t be surprised by how much they’ll need to pay out of pocket.
The roles of health professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists have been frozen for decades. A new review shows how this can change.
COVID antivirals are recommended for people aged over 70 and those at risk of severe illness. But many older Australians are missing out. Here’s why – and how to fix this problem.
More Australians delay or skip dental care because of cost than their peers in most wealthy countries. Adding dental to Medicare wouldn’t be easy, but it would vastly improve Australians’ health.
Unexpected bills for preventive care can worsen existing racial and socioeconomic health disparities.
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After months of negotiations between the major parties, the government has announced its new plan for aged care. Here’s what it means for people in residential aged care and their families.
Aged care providers can’t find staff and a crisis is brewing. If the problem isn’t fixed, there are serious risks to quality and access to services for older people who need support.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne