Edit: Options for reforming Australia's health system .. note: a public option is popular period. A NO BRAINER
"A healthy economy needs healthy citizens and the Public Option for heath insurance is a great start."
Online only 16 February 2009 Dr Anne-Marie Boxall and Dr Luke Buckmaster Social Policy Section
Contents .. Introduction
A brief overview of the Australian health system Commonwealth and state responsibilities State versus federal tensions
The need for reform
Managed competition The Scotton model The Podger model Criticisms
Medical saving accounts (MSAs) Criticisms
Medical Hospital Benefits Scheme ... Criticisms
Single national insurer Criticisms
Voucher system Criticisms
Big-bang or incremental reform?
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
Conclusion As can be seen from the above, there are strong voices on both sides of the ‘big-bang versus incremental reform’ debate.
Those in favour of large, structural change highlight the necessity of fundamental change necessary to deal with deep-rooted problems. There are clear political and structural challenges associated with any change of this type. Those favouring incremental change tend to highlight the dangers of large-scale change (including, for example, the loss of some of the good features of the current system). However, a possible consequence of incrementalism is that the health system continues to simply ‘muddle through’, resulting in the continuation or even exacerbation of current problems.[36] Either way, the intended direction of any change in the Australian health system under the Rudd Government is likely to become clearer following the Government response to the NHHRC Interim report.
[1]. The current AHCAs are due to expire on 30 June 2009. At the November 2008 Council of Australian Governments Meeting, the National Healthcare Agreement was signed, which will replace the AHCAs.
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