Medicare and pbs

Question 1

medicare

Answer 1

Australia’s universal health insurance scheme that provides access to healthcare that is subsidized by the federal government.
-priority is given according to clinical need

Question 2

covered and not covered

Answer 2

covered:
x-rays
doctor and specialist consultations
not covered:
ambulances services
dental

Question 3

systems

Answer 3

1. schedule fee- the amount that Medicare contributes towards certain consultations and treatments, determined by gvt.
2. bulk billing - doctor or specialist charges only the schedule fee, therefore there is no out of pocket expense for the patient
3. patient co-payment- payment made by patient for the service, that is in addition to the cost covered by medicare

Question 4

advantages

Answer 4

• available to all aus.
  -citizens choice of doctor for out of hospital services

Question 5

disadvantages

Answer 5

-waiting list for many treatments
-does not cover alternative therapies

Question 6

funded through

Answer 6

• Medicare levy, an additional 2 percent tax placed on the taxable income of most taxpayers
• Medicare levy surcharge, 1 to 1.5 percent. this is payable by higher income earners who don’t have private health insurance.
• general taxation

Question 7

Medicare safety net

Answer 7

provides extra financial assistance for those that incur significant out of pocket costs for Medicare services in a 12 month period

Question 8

pbs

Answer 8

-federal governments subsidy for essential medicines
-not all medicines are covered
-patients make co-payments
medicines are tested prior to being on the list

Question 9

pbs safety net

Answer 9

provides extra financial assistance for individuals and families if their out of pocket expenditure on pbs listed medications exceed a certain amount in a 12 month period