……After years of growth upon growth, GDP per capita has turned pretty much flat in the last few years.
….In fact, GDP is not even the best measure of individual welfare. If you want to adjust for inflation and look at people’s disposable income, things are even worse.
GDP …. flat
External link, the views expressed are not necessarily those of savemedicare.org news.com.au population boom’s hidden secret
Reports emerge of “well advanced” planning for massive outsourcing of government payments with a view to making it a key feature of Treasurer Scott Morrison’s first Budget in May.
…the $50 billion-plus outsourcing would be the first time the private sector has delivered a national service subsidised by the government.
…would administer claims and payments while overseeing eligibility criteria, meaning they would require access to people’s sensitive private information.
….The Health Department 18 months ago asked for expressions of interest to deliver Medicare, PBS and Veterans Affairs payments. The three programs will dispense a combined $39 billion in 2016-17 — $22 billion in Medicare benefits and $10.5 billion in PBS subsidies.
Total payments for aged care, including home and community care programs, will be $15.8 billion this financial year.
external link The West Australian
United Nations human rights expert Alfred de Zayas called on Governments not to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ….
“The TPP is fundamentally flawed and should not be signed or ratified unless provision is made to guarantee the regulatory space of States,”….
“Trade agreements are not ‘stand-alone’ legal regimes, but must conform with fundamental principles of international law, including transparency and accountability,” Mr. de Zayas stressed….
In his statement, the Independent Expert expressed concern that, despite “enormous opposition by civil society worldwide, twelve countries are about to sign an agreement, which is the product of secret negotiations without multi-stakeholder democratic consultation.”
“The options are not to sign the TPP as it stands, as civil society demands, or not to ratify it, which is the responsibility of democratically elected parliaments,” the expert noted. “Should the TPP ever enter into force, its compatibility with international law should be challenged before the International Court of Justice”.
“If a public referendum were held in all twelve countries concerned, it will be solidly rejected,” Mr. de Zayas stated.
Mr de Zayas is specifically concerned about the impact on human rights and his full text can be accessed via a UN web site here, external link http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=17006
THESE CUTS ARE KILLING US: End Healthcare Austerity
– RALLY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20th, 1PM, SYDNEY TOWN HALL.
The Turnbull Government is reducing funding for pathology tests – this could lead to payments of at least $30 for pap smears, and urine and blood tests.The Federal Government’s efforts to save $650 million will put lives at risk.
Cuts to bulk-billing for pathology services will affect MRIs, x-rays, blood and urine tests, ultrasounds and pap-smears.The cuts are particularly harmful for women, people with a disability, working class and poor people, and anybody with chronic health issues.
This means pap smears, blood and urine tests, MRIs and X-Rays are all unlikely to be bulk-billed.
This would cost some patients hundreds of dollars in up-front fees, which the Medicare rebate would only partially cover.
For example, currently the Medicare rebate for cytology tests for cancer ranges from around $20 to $220. If these aren’t bulk billed then the patient has to pay an amount equal to the whole of the Medicare rebate plus however much extra the pathology provider decides to charge, and can only claim back the rebate afterwards.
People who need multiple tests will have to pay the fee each time.
This rebate is only available to providers if they bulk bill and there is no cap on how much providers are allowed to charge once they stop bulk billing.
The continuing Medicare rebate freeze will be the equivalent of charging an additional $8.43 copayment per non-concessional patient consultation in 2017/2018 dollars.
The rebate freeze is pressuring GPs, Optometrists, Physiotherapists and other health professionals to charge more and to abandon bulk billing.
The government is talking about privatising the delivery of Medicare rebates.
The privatisation of public service delivery will mean taxpayer money going into the pockets of private providers for worse service after profits are extracted.
Your confidential information will be in the hands of profit driven companies and possibly held overseas.
The Federal government has cut $50 billion out of grants for hospitals. State governments cannot easily replace this funding.
Join the Save Medicare contingent on 20th February in Sydney to fight for a well-funded public and universal health system, paid for through progressive taxation. This is not only the most equitable way to fund primary healthcare, it is also the most effective and efficient.
Sign the #thesecutsarekillingus petition here: www.change.org/thesecuts
Sydney event: https://www.facebook.com/events/125663497809971/
Melbourne event: https://www.facebook.com/
Geelong event:https://www.facebook.com/
Adelaide event: https://www.facebook.com/
Newcastle event: https://facebook.com/
Brisbane event: https://www.facebook.com/
Canberra event: https://www.facebook.com/
Perth event: https://www.facebook.com/
Find out more about attacks on Australia’s health care:
How Health Cuts affect YOU
News: http://savemedicare.org/category/news/
Trans Pacific Partnership and ISDS News: http://savemedicare.org/category/trans-pacific-partnership-and-isds/
Main Page: http://savemedicare.org/
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Health Minister Sussan Ley has admitted only around half of the money saved by cuts to Medicare Benefits Schedule items will be re-invested in new procedures and services, …..
Ms Ley said that although some of the funds freed up by cutting items from Medicare would be spent on new listings, much will go on shoring up the Budget.
External link AMA: Only Half of MBS Savings to be reinvested in Medicare
The article below portrays risks to the environment BUT the same risks apply to government decisions relating to health and other areas when large corprations are given new powers under ISDS provisions.
Full article, external link The Corporation Behind Keystone XL Just Laid Bare the TPP’s Threats to Our Climate
In 2011 Phillip Morris challenged Australia’s plain paper tobacco packaging using ISDS provisions in a Hong Kong trade treaty.
Australia has won, it seems, because they successfully argued that Phillip Morris was “treaty shopping”
However, the dismissal of the case on procedural grounds means that we will never get a ruling on the substance of Philip Morris’ claims. …..
What this means is that any country that is contemplating plain packaging – France has just joined the list of countries pursuing the policy – still has cause for concern. This is especially the case because tobacco companies don’t show any sign of giving up their legal campaign.
In this regard, poor countries are in the worst position because they can’t afford even a preliminary defence in an ISDS case….
(The Australian taxpayer avoidede further costs but also lost because the case, even though it was in the initial phase, has already cost the government $50 million.)
“Treasurer Scott Morrison delivered a blow to the aged care sector and demonstrated the government does not recognise the growing needs of caring for our ageing population,” said Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). Federal Secretary Lee Thomas.
“The aged care sector provides around-the-clock nursing to the frail aged and many with complex and chronic conditions require 24/7 care.”
The ANMF is concerned about nurses conditions but the real threat is to the health of the aged. If the savings cant be found by hiring less skilled and lower cost staff the elderly will pay with reduced services and health. Relatives will have to make up the shortfall out of their own pockets.
External link MYEFO Rips $472 million from aged care….
Professor Owler said the axing of the bulk billing incentives for pathology and diagnostic imaging services will increase the health cost burden for Australian families, with the poorest and the sickest being hit the hardest.
These measures are simply resurrecting a part of the Government’s original ill-fated co-payment proposal from the 2014 Budget,” Professor Owler said.
It is yet another co-payment by stealth.
Cutting Medicare patient rebates for important pathology and imaging services is another example of putting the Budget bottom line ahead of good health policy.
These services are critical to early diagnosis and management of health conditions to allow people to remain productive in their jobs for the good of the economy.
The AMA strongly opposes these measures, and we will be encouraging the Senate to disallow them.
……..
The Government is repeatedly cutting away at the Health budget despite there being no evidence of a health funding crisis.
Full press release, external link AMA Press Release
Sonic Healthcare, a global pathology and radiology giant, said that it has no intention of absorbing the cuts and will charge payments and reduce services in rural and regional areas to protect its business (SMH 17/12/2015). Other major health services suppliers have also indicated they will introduce a co payment.
Additional comment Cuts to Pathology and Diagnostic Imaging
Extracts follow, read the full article at external link TPP’s clauses that let Australia be sued are weapons of legal destruction, says lawyer
George Kahale III is chairman of the world’s leading legal arbitration firm – Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP.
“If the trade minister is saying, ‘We’re not at risk for regulating environmental matters’, then the trade minister is wrong.” 9.15 provides protections for ….environmental, health or other regulatory objectives….but the protection is negated by five words in the middle
re Most Favoured Nation clause – Essentially, … is tantamount to a classic wipeout move. It would enable foreign corporations from TPP states to make a claim against Australia based on the ISDS provisions in any other trade deal Australia has signed, no matter which country it was signed with…..foreign investors can cherrypick another treaty Australia has signed
ISDS claims are not heard in a standing court staffed by independent judges. Instead, claims can proceed in ad hoc courtrooms – a hotel room, for example – by three arbitrators hand-picked by the parties. Unlike a traditional court of law, these arbitrators are not obliged to refer to precedent and, since their decisions are not open to appeal, they are free to rule according to their personal opinion.