ABN 60 083 141 664
The Peak Body Representing Allied Health in Australia
Incorporating AHPARR (Rural & Remote), National Allied Health Classification Committee and
National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions
EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION FRIDAY, 19 DECEMBER
Allies of good health care speak out
The proposed cuts to Medicare will make it harder for many chronically ill patients to get
comprehensive care, which can benefit them and the health budget by reducing costly
hospital stays.
National allied health profession leaders have expressed their concern about the potential
impact of the Government’s Medicare measures on many Australians’ health, in a
statement released by Allied Health Professions Australia today.
“Allied health professionals make a major contribution to helping people with chronic
conditions keep well and stay out of hospital” says Professor Lyn Littlefield, Chair of AHPA.
Australians with chronic conditions need to feel able to see an allied health professional as
well as a GP. But the Government’s announced freeze on Medicare rebates through to July
2018 will effectively turn many away from accessing these and other much needed allied
health services.
Examples are physiotherapists and osteopaths who work with people to maintain or regain
their mobility and strength, dietitians who advise on a person’s nutritional needs, diabetes
educators who empower patients to self-manage their condition effectively.
Accessing quality allied health services contributes to fewer hospitalisations, generating
major savings on health costs. For an investment of $173 for diabetes education per person
with diabetes each year, there would be savings of $2800 in health care costs. Yearly
podiatry visits for diabetic patients could reduce Australia’s amputation rate by 40 per cent
and physiotherapy management could prevent 63 per cent of costly knee replacements.
Members: Audiology Australia, Australasian Podiatry Council, Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors, Australasian Sonographers Association
Australian,
Association of Social Workers, Australian Music Therapy Association, Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association, Australian
Physiotherapy Assoication, Australian Psychological Society, Australian and New Zealand College of Perfusionists, Chiropractor’s Association of
Australia, Dietitians Association of Australia, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Occupational Therapy Australia, Orthoptics Australia,
Osetopathy Australia, Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, Speech Pathology Australia.
Affiliates: Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Australian Association of Practice Managers, Diversional Therapy Australia, Hearing Aid
Audiometrist Society of Australia
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Claire Hewat, CEO of Dietitians Association of Australia expresses her concern “Consumers
will be faced with bigger barriers which defeats the purpose of evidence based
multidisciplinary care for chronic and complex conditions.” Gail Mulcair, CEO Speech
Pathology Australia also states “An increasing gap negatively impacts on consumers being
able to access private services, with these consumers commonly amongst our most
vulnerable and/or disadvantaged.” “The freeze impacts unfairly on vulnerable groups who
can’t afford a gap of any kind” reiterates Damian Mitsch, CEO Australasian Podiatry Council.
Faced with greater costs consumers with chronic conditions may forgo attending preventive
health care services from allied health professionals and then develop serious symptoms
requiring hositalisation and maybe surgery, with the consequences of far greater out-ofpocket expenses, time off work, loss of income, and absence from family duties.
Allied Health Medicare rebates are provided for just 20 minutes of a service, but for most
health consumers an adequate and effective initial consultation and intervention by an
allied health professional takes far longer than 20 minutes. The allied health professionals,
like GPs, need to maintain the viability of their small businesses. Business overheads and
salaries need to be met. Each year the cost of living increases and so to must the fees set to
cover costs. As Cris Massis, CEO of the Australian Physiotherapy Association says “This
means that, by 2018, Medicare rebates for many services will have been frozen for almost
six years, while inflation continues to rise.”
Medicare rebates for diagnostic imaging have not been indexed since 1998. This means that
every woman having a baby and people suffering with cancer are carrying an increased
financial burden. Stephen Duns, CEO of Australasian Sonographers Association notes
“This burden increases while costs go up and rebates stay down.”
People needing allied health services will be faced with increasing out-of pocket expenses
as the Medicare rebate remains frozen in the face of unremitting increases in cost of living
and thus business expenses.
Allied Health Professions Australia has been advocating for some time for reforms in the
Medicare system which would save the Government money and save health consumers
money and time. Examples include allowing some allied health professionals prescribing
rights and allowing specialists and allied health professionals to directly refer a consumer
for a needed health service, rather than always needing to go via a GP. AHPA urges the
Government to maintain Australia’s internationally acknowledged universal health care, by
engaging with it to define the potential economic savings of effectively using Allied Health
Professionals in the health system.
ENDS
Media inquiries: Lin Oke, Executive Officer, AHPA 0414 473 482