Affordable, high quality health services

By the end of 2004-05, the Australian Government will have doubled funding for health and aged care since coming to office. This underlines its commitment to improving the quality and affordability of health care for all Australians, wherever they live.

Initiatives in this Budget include:

• improved access to insulin infusion pump consumables for diabetics and Cochlear speech processor upgrades for children in need
• enhancements to Australia’s ability to respond to a national health emergency, such as avian influenza
• increased funding for indigenous health
• funding life saving drugs to treat Fabry’s disease.

The Government has also renewed funding for its innovative Rural Health Strategy, worth $830 million over four years. This vital program improves affordability and access to medical services for those living in rural areas.

These initiatives are in addition to the Government’s strong contribution to public hospital funding of nearly $8 billion in 2004-05 and its commitment to a sustainable Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Strengthening Medicare

MedicarePlus is the single largest improvement to Medicare since its inception. The centrepiece of the package is the new safety net, which helps individuals and families cope with high out-of-pocket medical costs.

The Government has also sought to address the shortage of medical professionals while providing them with incentives to bulk-bill.

Additional initiatives will allow some services provided by allied health professionals and dentists to be billed to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.