Health and Ageing
Additional Practice Nurses for Rural Australia and other areas of need — continue funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 |
| Health Insurance Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Total | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 |
The Government will provide $129.7 million over four years to continue funding for general practices in areas of high workforce pressure to employ and provide training and support for practice nurses.
This measure involves funding of $31.4 million in 2005-06, $32.1 million in 2006-07, $32.8 million in 2007-08 and $33.5 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Funding of $4.2 million over three years for the Re-entry and Up-skilling Scheme, currently funded through the Additional Practice Nurses for Rural Australia and other areas of need Programme, will be transferred from this activity to the Rural Nursing Scholarship Programme measure. Continuation of the Re-entry and Up-skilling Scheme past 2007-08 will be subject to the outcomes of the review of the Rural Nursing Scholarship Programme at that time, but transfer of the provision in the forward estimates of $1.4 million in 2008-09 will impact on the fiscal balance.
Aged care — consultation on longer-term reform
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 1.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.3 million in 2005-06 to fund a public consultation process to explore options for further reform of the aged care industry and to consider the outstanding medium and longer-term issues raised by the Hogan Review of Pricing Arrangements in Residential Aged Care.
Aged care homes’ funding claims — maintain funding for greater scrutiny
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will continue funding for more frequent auditing of aged care homes’ funding claims, so that each home is checked at least once every two years and the majority are checked every year.
This measure will help ensure that subsidy payments are consistent with residents’ care needs under the Resident Classification Scale.
This measure will result in estimated savings of $20.7 million in 2005-06, $21.2 million in 2006-07 and $21.6 million in 2007-08. Provision for these savings has already been included in the forward estimates.
Asthma Management Programme — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Health Insurance Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $27.1 million over four years to continue the Asthma Management Programme. This programme provides incentive payments and resources for GPs to encourage the provision of best practice treatment and management for people with asthma, as well as a range of initiatives aimed at children, community support, professional education and asthma self-management issues.
This measure will involve funding of $8.3 million in 2005-06, $6.1 million in 2006-07, $6.3 million in 2007-08 and $6.4 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative — continue funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Health Insurance Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $102.2 million over four years to continue the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative.
This initiative provides support and incentives for maintaining and improving the quality of mental health care provided by general practitioners.
This measure involves funding of $38.0 million in 2005-06, $21.0 million in 2006-07, $21.0 million in 2007-08 and $22.2 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Brain and Mind Research Institute — grant of assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will contribute $5.0 million in 2004-05 towards the Brain and Mind Research Institute’s fit out of its research centres and laboratories.
The Institute will become a centre for innovative and integrated research strategies, and the development of products to improve treatment and disease prevention. As such, the Institute has the potential to undertake and lead research that will reduce the personal, social and economic costs associated with mental health and neurological disorders in the Australian community.
Carer Information and Support Programme — continue funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $10.2 million over four years to continue the Carer Information and Support Programme.
This initiative provides information and products to support carers of older Australians, with delivery primarily through the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres.
This measure involves funding of $2.5 million in 2005-06, $2.5 million in 2006-07, $2.6 million in 2007-08 and $2.6 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Centre for Medical Bionics and Hearing Science — further contribution
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $5.0 million in 2004-05 for the Centre for Medical Bionics and Hearing Services. This additional allocation supplements funding of $0.7 million announced on 7 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment, Prime Minister Pledges Funding for Medical Bionics Centre.
This additional funding will assist in research into nerve and spinal repair, coronary artery disease, epilepsy and new generation cochlear implants and hearing aids. The funding will also provide for the establishment and ongoing support of a management team, including the position of Director or Professor to provide leadership and direction, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Centre.
Cervical screening incentives for general practitioners — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Health Insurance Commission | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $31.6 million in 2005-06 to continue incentives for general practitioners to increase rates of participation in the National Cervical Screening Programme, targeting in particular women who are unscreened or under-screened. Greater participation in screening will improve the chance of detecting cervical abnormalities early, thereby reducing mortality from cervical cancer.
This measure provides a targeted incentive to general practitioners who screen high-risk women, including women in rural and remote areas, and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The measure also continues funding for a population-based incentive that rewards general practices reaching an overall screening target.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Community Pharmacy Agreement
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | nfp | nfp | nfp | nfp |
The Government has commenced negotiations for the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, expected to run from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2010. Since 1990 the Government has entered into five-year agreements with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to ensure the delivery of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed items and other pharmacy services to the community.
The current agreement expires on 30 June 2005. The Government has decided to achieve significant savings against the current forward estimates over the life of the next agreement, as well as substantial further savings over time, in order to improve the sustainability of the PBS. Pharmacists and wholesalers comprise approximately one-third of the cost of the PBS and there have been minimal changes to remuneration arrangements for at least a decade contributing to substantial increases in costs to the Government.
Dementia — Extended Aged Care at Home places
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 15.6 | 44.0 | 74.4 | 91.1 |
The Government will provide $225.1 million over four years for a further 2,000 Extended Aged Care at Home places specifically targeted at people with dementia, and to increase the number of hours of support available to recipients of these places. This represents a substantial increase in the number of Extended Aged Care at Home packages. Currently there are 2,728 packages that are being delivered to the community or have been previously announced. Additional funding will also be provided to Aged Care Assessment Teams for care planning and progressive reassessments to ensure appropriate care is provided to recipients of these places.
This measure was announced on 26 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Dementia — A National Health Priority.
Dementia — training for carers
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 4.1 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.2 |
The Government will provide $25.0 million over four years to provide dementia-specific training for up to 9,000 community and residential care workers, and up to 7,000 carers and community workers such as police and transport workers. This will help to ensure that carers and community workers provide appropriate care to people with dementia in residential care and in the community, building on the Carer Education and Workforce Training Project, for which the Government provided $1.3 million in 2004-05. The Project currently provides services to approximately 1,200 respite workers and family carers.
This measure was announced on 26 September 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Dementia — A National Health Priority.
Dementia Education and Support Programme — continue funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $11.9 million over four years to continue funding for the Dementia Education and Support Programme, and to provide additional funding for Aged Care Assessment Teams.
The programme assists people with dementia and their carers to reduce stress, increase effectiveness of the caring role and delay entry to residential care. It also provides funding to ensure that Aged Care Assessment Teams in rural areas have access to dementia expertise and training to enhance their capacity to assess people with dementia and support them and their families in making appropriate care choices.
This measure involves funding of $2.9 million in 2005-06, $2.9 million in 2006-07, $3.0 million in 2007-08 and $3.1 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Ensuring Quality Care for Older Australians — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $20.8 million over four years to continue to ensure quality care for older Australians in residential aged care. This measure will continue the enhancement of the Complaints Resolution Scheme and improve the use of information technology in promoting the delivery of quality care and monitoring the suitability of aged care providers under the Aged Care Act 1997. This measure also increases funding to the National Aged Care Advocacy Programme, which protects the rights of residents in aged care homes, and the Community Visitors Scheme, which funds 159 community services to recruit and manage volunteers who visit aged care homes.
This measure involves funding of $5.1 million in 2005-06, $5.2 million in 2006-07, $5.2 million in 2007-08 and $5.3 million in 2008-09. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Fernlea House palliative care hospice
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $800,000 over two years to help establish a palliative care hospice at Fernlea House in the Dandenong Ranges area. Of this funding, $350,000 will be provided in 2004-05; and the remaining $450,000 will be provided from the 2005-06 Budget measure Strengthening Cancer Care — palliative care grants programme which is an element of the Government’s Strengthening Cancer Care election commitment, announced on 4 October 2004.
Fernlea House provides bereavement support as well as holistic care for those with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. It also provides respite for carers.
Gippsland Lakes Community Health — contribution
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 0.3 | 0.3 | - | - |
The Government will provide $500,000 over two years to Gippsland Lakes Community Health in Gippsland, Victoria. Gippsland Lakes Community Health offers a wide range of health and support programmes, including medical and emergency services, health promotion programmes, child and maternal care and allied health services.
GST-free accommodation charges for residents of serviced apartments in retirement villages — assessments
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.2 |
The Government will provide $20.9 million over five years (including $1.0 million in 2004-05) to enable Aged Care Assessment Teams to conduct assessments of residents of serviced apartments in retirement villages to determine those who meet the level of care necessary to be eligible for GST-free treatment of their accommodation and care services.
The Government has amended the GST legislation to clarify that residents of serviced apartments in a retirement village who require and receive ‘daily living or nursing services’ of a kind defined in the Quality of Care Principles under the Aged Care Act 1997 are eligible for GST-free treatment of their accommodation and care services.
Under the amended legislation residents will be required to be assessed as qualifying for the GST-free treatment once the assessment process is established.
See also the related revenue measure GST-free supplies — residents of serviced apartments in retirement villages in Budget Paper No. 3.
Home Medicine Reviews — maintain funding of Medicare item for general practitioner participation
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | - | - | - | - |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | - | - | - | - |
| Total | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $7.5 million in 2005-06 to continue to provide Medicare benefits for general practitioners participating in Home Medicine Reviews. This programme enables general practitioners to work in collaboration with pharmacists to review the medication of patients who are at risk from medication-related problems.
This measure will involve funding of $7.0 million in 2005-06 for the Department of Health and Ageing and $0.5 million in 2005-06 for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Hospital Safety Initiative — maintain funding
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Ageing | -5.5 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.3 million in 2005-06 to fund national hospital and safety initiatives. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Additional funding of $5.5 million in 2005-06 was included in the forward estimates to fund the Australian Government’s contribution to the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. However, this funding is no longer required, as the Council has sufficient funds to meet its costs in 2005-06.