TURNBULL’S SIGNATURE HEALTH POLICY SET UP TO FAIL

TURNBULL’S SIGNATURE HEALTH POLICY SET UP TO FAIL

Turnbull’s so-called signature health reform – the Health Care Homes trial – has been delivered another blow, with departmental research showing not a single person tested could offer an accurate description of what a Health Care Home actually was.

Turnbull said that the trial would be ‘‘one of the biggest health system reforms since the introduction of Medicare 30 years ago’’. [MEDIA RELEASE, 31 MARCH 2016]

But the botched rollout means that people don’t even understand why they should sign up.

In just over a week, the trial is meant to reach 200 sites and involve 65,000 participants. This new research raises serious doubts about if Turnbull’s trial will even secure a fraction of the participants promised.

Turnbull has underfunded and underdone this trial from the start. The 2017-18 Budget delayed the Health Care Homes initiative, and cut funding from the rollout – despite groups such as the AMA, RACGP and the AHHA saying the pilot was already underfunded.

Even worse, it comes at a time when they have cut billions from primary health care via their freeze on Medicare rebates.

In contrast, Labor committed $100 million to develop and roll out new models of primary care – Turnbull can’t expect primary care reform at the same time as he is gutting it.

The Government has done nothing but ask doctors and other health providers to do more and more with less and less – and as a result patients will continue to pay the price.

WEDNESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2017