Healthcare System Reforms Flashcards
(10 cards)
Reform meaning
Making changes to something in order to improve it.
3 healthcare system reforms
Private health insurance rebate
Public screening/ vaccination programs
Pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS)
Private health insurance rebate
A financial incentive from the Aus Gov to encourage people to take out private health insurance.
Why does private health insurance rebate exist?
Rebate encourages more people to use private health care, which helps reduce pressure on the public system.
Public screening/ vaccination programs
Gov funded programs that aim to prevent illness & detect diseases early via screening and immunisations.
What are public screening/ vaccination programs?
Screening: preventive health measures aimed at detecting diseases (before symptoms appear), to improve health outcomes via early treatment + intervention.
Immunisation: provides free vaccinations to eligible people to protect against serous diseases.
Public screening/ vaccination programs examples
Screening: national bowel cancer screening programs, breast screening Australia.
Immunisation: kids/adolescents- hep b, tetanus, polio, HPV.
Adults- influenza, whooping cough, shingles.
Pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS)
Provides subsidised prescription meds to Aus residents, ensuring all Australians have affordable & reliable access to necessary medications.
Pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) key features
Subsidised meds: Aus gov covers a large part of the cost of many prescription meds.
- patients only pay for part of the cost.
Co-payment levels (as of 2025):
General patients- around $31.60 per script.
Concession card holders- up to $7.70 per script.
- once families/ patients reach PBS safety net, meds may be further discounted/ free for the rest of the year.
Why is pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) important?
- reduces financial behaviours
- promotes health equity
- supports chronic disease management.
