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A Fairer Approach to Risk Equalisation

Wed, 17/09/2008 - 12:52 — John Rashleigh

John Rashleigh

Managed well, Risk Equalisation has an important social role to play in ensuring health insurance is available to all Australian citizens, alleviating considerable pressure from the public purse. 

I'd like to highlight an area of regulation pertaining to the private health insurance sector that urgently requires reform.

The Risk Equalisation scheme must be amended, because at the moment, it totally lacks equity. Through my role as Chairman of HIRMAA (the peak body for restricted and regional funds I've been raising this contention with the Federal government (and the previous one) for quite a while. Unfortunately regulatory reform in this area is being stymied, due to no good reason I can see, other than the powerful opposition of the big insurers.

Risk Equalisation is essentially a new name for what we used to call reinsurance. It's a concept which has been a central aspect of private health insurance since October 1976 (having been preceded by a similar arrangement known as the Special Account that had been introduced in 1959). 

I agree we need to retain the system of Risk Equalisation funds pooling. However, because of the differences between the big and small players, a far more equitable approach would be to have two separate pools.

Health Care Agreements: Paper for Open Forum

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 09:00 — gapadmin

Tony AbbottTony Abbott reflects on his time as federal health minister and says the upcoming health care agreements could achieve most of the benefits of a federal government's  takeover of public hospitals.

At the recent 2020 summit, delegates' frustration with the dog's breakfast of divided responsibilities in health was sidetracked into proposals for a national preventive health agency funded by a tax on junk food and a new health equality commission. Keeping people healthy and giving everyone the best possible health outcomes are worthy goals, but are unlikely to be achieved by creating new bureaucracies. Avoiding discussion of today's actual problems by focusing, instead, on vague aspirations for the distant future seems to be the new government's style. Let's find something that sounds visionary, but that doesn't threaten current power structures or imply blame for current problems. That way, we can all be seen to work together.

Inside the 2020 Summit: A healthy look at the future

Tue, 29/04/2008 - 10:32 — gapadmin

Stephen Leeder

The twelve years from now to 2020 will be constrained by demographic imperatives, economic realities, demands of sustainability, Asian development and climate change. Within those constraints we will have choices - how wisely can we make them, asks Prof Stephen Leeder.

In proposing a national health strategy, major points of agreement emerged quickly among the hundred delegates in the Health Strategy Stream. The 17 years less life expectancy experienced by Indigenous Australians was unacceptable, and to ensure more equitable care for people in remote socio-economically disadvantaged Australia was urgent. A more energetic approach to IT for a portable, personal medical record was proposed, essential for the decades of care for people with long-term continuing health problems such as emphysema. The continuing value of research was acknowledged.

Chronic illness scares everyone, especially mental problems, and better linked up care is critical between public and private, health workforce and Commonwealth and States.

Health Care Agreements: Paper for Open Forum

Mon, 05/05/2008 - 09:00 — gapadmin

Tony AbbottThe Hon. Tony Abbott MP reflects on his time as federal health minister and says the upcoming health care agreements could achieve most of the benefits of a federal government's  takeover of public hospitals.

Health

Tue, 22/04/2008 - 15:41 — gapadmin

AUSTRALIA 2020 SUMMIT OUTCOMES