This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/31/coalitions-healthcare-plan-has-pros-and-cons-say-medical-experts

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Coalition's healthcare plan has pros and cons, say medical experts Coalition's healthcare plan has pros and cons, say medical experts
(5 months later)
Medical experts have welcomed federal government plans to trial better coordinated healthcare for people suffering multiple chronic illnesses, but have questioned funding levels and when the program will be rolled out nationally.Medical experts have welcomed federal government plans to trial better coordinated healthcare for people suffering multiple chronic illnesses, but have questioned funding levels and when the program will be rolled out nationally.
On Thursday the health minister, Sussan Ley, announced a plan for “healthcare homes” – primary healthcare centres or GPs – to coordinate tailored care packages for patients with multiple chronic conditions. The cost of health services would be bundled into regular quarterly payments rather than patients paying on each visit.On Thursday the health minister, Sussan Ley, announced a plan for “healthcare homes” – primary healthcare centres or GPs – to coordinate tailored care packages for patients with multiple chronic conditions. The cost of health services would be bundled into regular quarterly payments rather than patients paying on each visit.
Related: Health minister lists 23 Medicare items for review as funding overhaul begins
The plan also proposes more data collection and use of digital health records to measure patients’ progress and share information between doctors.The plan also proposes more data collection and use of digital health records to measure patients’ progress and share information between doctors.
The federal government would spend $21m on a two-year trial for 65,000 Australians to get individual healthcare plans in up to 200 medical practices from 1 July 2017.The federal government would spend $21m on a two-year trial for 65,000 Australians to get individual healthcare plans in up to 200 medical practices from 1 July 2017.
A leaked Council of Australian Governments document suggests the package would be paid for by taking $70m a year from hospital funding over the next three years.A leaked Council of Australian Governments document suggests the package would be paid for by taking $70m a year from hospital funding over the next three years.
As many as one in five Australians live with two or more chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and mental health, which require a range of health services including GPs and specialists.As many as one in five Australians live with two or more chronic health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and mental health, which require a range of health services including GPs and specialists.
Ley said the package was designed to tackle poor healthcare coordination which resulted from frequent users of the health system seeing as many as five GPs a year, which made falling through the cracks and ending up in hospital more likely.Ley said the package was designed to tackle poor healthcare coordination which resulted from frequent users of the health system seeing as many as five GPs a year, which made falling through the cracks and ending up in hospital more likely.
Half of all potentially avoidable hospital admissions in 2013-14 were attributed to chronic conditions.Half of all potentially avoidable hospital admissions in 2013-14 were attributed to chronic conditions.
The Australian Medical Association’s president, Prof Brian Owler, said the AMA was pleased with the package but the announcement had a “major missing piece” because it did not include the amount and nature of funding for primary healthcare beyond the trial period.The Australian Medical Association’s president, Prof Brian Owler, said the AMA was pleased with the package but the announcement had a “major missing piece” because it did not include the amount and nature of funding for primary healthcare beyond the trial period.
Related: Sussan Ley adds aged care to her duties as health and sport minister
He said other questions included: “How will the changes impact on existing Medicare chronic disease funding? How will the healthcare homes funding be administered and structured? What are the eligibility criteria for patients? What is the timing of the trial and the potential national rollout of the package?”He said other questions included: “How will the changes impact on existing Medicare chronic disease funding? How will the healthcare homes funding be administered and structured? What are the eligibility criteria for patients? What is the timing of the trial and the potential national rollout of the package?”
Labor and the Greens also criticised the government over funding.Labor and the Greens also criticised the government over funding.
The opposition spokeswoman on health, Catherine King, said “proposals to better manage chronic care are doomed unless the Turnbull government abandons its more than $2bn in cuts to general practice”.The opposition spokeswoman on health, Catherine King, said “proposals to better manage chronic care are doomed unless the Turnbull government abandons its more than $2bn in cuts to general practice”.
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, said the package acknowledged the right problem but was “light on detail and funding”.The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, said the package acknowledged the right problem but was “light on detail and funding”.
“Based on the minister’s comments this morning, a funding commitment equal to $340 per patient appears to be woefully inadequate,” he said. “It will still be cheaper for a patient to go to hospital than to see a physiotherapist.” “Based on the minister’s comments this morning, a funding commitment equal to $340 per patient appears to be woefully inadequate,” he said. “It will still be cheaper for a patient to go to hospital than to see a physiotherapist.” 
Council on the Ageing’s chief executive, Ian Yates, said the program would provide older Australians with healthcare packages tailored to their needs and coordinated by a trusted healthcare home of their choice.Council on the Ageing’s chief executive, Ian Yates, said the program would provide older Australians with healthcare packages tailored to their needs and coordinated by a trusted healthcare home of their choice.
“Health co-morbidities do tend to increase as we age, with people over 65 seeing a GP twice as often on average than younger people,” Yates said.“Health co-morbidities do tend to increase as we age, with people over 65 seeing a GP twice as often on average than younger people,” Yates said.
“Not only is it expensive, it’s stressful and exhausting finding specialists, filling prescriptions, visiting GPs and attending outpatient facilities, when each condition is too often treated in isolation from the others, with little coordination or communication between health providers.“Not only is it expensive, it’s stressful and exhausting finding specialists, filling prescriptions, visiting GPs and attending outpatient facilities, when each condition is too often treated in isolation from the others, with little coordination or communication between health providers.
“It also means that too often these chronic conditions can escalate quickly, resulting in the need for acute care and the trauma of hospitalisation that could have been avoided with better treatment earlier, and more pro-active primary care.”“It also means that too often these chronic conditions can escalate quickly, resulting in the need for acute care and the trauma of hospitalisation that could have been avoided with better treatment earlier, and more pro-active primary care.”
The Public Health Association of Australia’s chief executive, Michael Moore, said that to make a real difference, prevention must be included in a comprehensive health package for people with chronic and complex health conditions.The Public Health Association of Australia’s chief executive, Michael Moore, said that to make a real difference, prevention must be included in a comprehensive health package for people with chronic and complex health conditions.
“The single most important cause of chronic conditions is obesity. This needs to be addressed rather than waiting for the development of a chronic condition which then needs treatment,” Moore said.“The single most important cause of chronic conditions is obesity. This needs to be addressed rather than waiting for the development of a chronic condition which then needs treatment,” Moore said.