Medicare's brain drain
April 12, 2008, smh
PSYCHOLOGISTS have rapidly turned their inclusion under Medicare into a goldmine, earning more than $120 million from Medicare but still tending to charge their patients higher co-payments than doctors.
But the expansion of Medicare cover for mental health services in November 2006 has largely failed to provide the services to those most in need: patients in country areas and low-income people, according to figures published yesterday.
In the first 13 months of the scheme, general psychologists undertook nearly 1 million long consultation services of 50-plus minutes, attracting a rebate of $76.65. On average they charged patients an extra co-payment of $33.40.
Clinical psychologists were also busy and charging co-payments that were on average $27 more than a Medicare rebate of $112.45.
Mark Metherell
About Me
- JENNY'S RED NEWS
- Dear Fellow Bloggers, For some time I have thought about starting a left of centre news and commentary service and I have tried to do this by using email. But as some good, but email overloaded friends have suggested, a better way to go may be by blogging. So here it is! Jenny's Red News. My primary interests are left of centre politics and the very important question of how can we get left of centre parties, groups and grouplets in Australia working together more co-operatively. The right of centre predominates politics in this country at the present time, and they are on the march. We on the left of centre need to work together more co-operatively and constructively to put the left of centre agenda out there, for the perusal and consumption of the Australian people. Particular topics that will be reported on and on which comments are welcome are: Industrial relations - Opposition to Workchoices Refugee and Asylum Seekers Human Rights Civil Liberties Opposition to the Welfare to Work Changes Health System Reform Aboriginal Health and Reconciliation Jenny Haines posted by JENNY'S RED NEWS at 12:50 AM 0 comments