- Email: [email protected]
The Australian Health system
From the College President The Australian Health system
T
he Australian Health system is a complex matrix of public and private settings and providers. Included are approximately 1500 Nurse Practitioners (NP).1 Given the complexities we are fortunate to have one of the most affordable, accessible and comprehensive systems in the world2. National health care funding systems gives eligible Australians access to affordable healthcare via 3 national subsidy schemes: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance Since 2010 the MBS has been available for some NP’s services.3 In 2015, the Health Minister announced a taskforce for a Healthier Medicare. The taskforce is considering how the more than 5,700 items on the MBS can be aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice, and improve health outcomes for patients. The review is clinician-led with no savings targets attached to the review.4 The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners sees this as an important opportunity for the Australian public, including health professionals to have their say about recommendations proposed by the clinical committees. The College continues to lobby government for greater access for patients to receive reimbursement for NP services, to ensure equity for patients in all areas. We look forward to future reporting on improvements as a result of involvement in ongoing MBS review committees.
References 1. http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/About/Statistics.aspx. 2. http://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/international-medical-graduate/australian-healthcare-system/. 3. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/midwives-nurse-pract -qanda-nursepract#9_3. 4. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/mbsreviewtaskforce.
Dr Grainne Lowe, PhD, NP, FACNP National President Luke Christofis, Nurse Practitioner, SA Chapter Chair Guest co-author 1555-4155/17/$ see front matter © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.08.009
www.npjournal.org
The mission of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners is to serve as the national peak organization for nurse practitioners advancing nursing practice and access to health care. Our vision is to: influence health care policy through advocacy, consumer engagement, and research; instill nurse practitioner knowledge, competency, and capability through access to quality education; and facilitate the development of a community of professional practice. The ACNP is governed by an elected board of directors composed of an executive committee and eight state directors, a patron, and two co-opted members.
ACNP National Office PO Box 637 North Sydney, NSW 2059 Australia Phone: +61 2 9016 4349 Fax: +61 2 9954 0666 [email protected] acnp.org.au
Executive Committee President Grainne Lowe, PhD, NP, FACNP Vice President Lee Poole, MNPractS, NP Secretary Kathleen Tori, MN(NP), FACNP Treasurer Robin Moon, MN(NP), FFACNP Co-Opted Member Jane O’Connell, PhD, NP, FFACNP Co-Opted Member Chris Raftery, MNSc(NP) Co-Opted Member Helen Gosby, MN, NP, FFACNP
Board of Directors Australian Capital Territory Kate Maher, MN(NP) New South Wales Anne Moehead, OAM, NP, MMH, FACNP Northern Territory Lyn Byers, MNP Queensland Suzanne Williams, NP South Australia Luke Christofis, MNP, FFACNP Tasmania Lisa Spoule, MNSc(NP) Victoria Tash Jennings, PhD, NP, FACNP, FACN Western Australia Clinton Fonceca, MNP
The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP
577
T
he Australian Health system is a complex matrix of public and private settings and providers. Included are approximately 1500 Nurse Practitioners (NP).1 Given the complexities we are fortunate to have one of the most affordable, accessible and comprehensive systems in the world2. National health care funding systems gives eligible Australians access to affordable healthcare via 3 national subsidy schemes: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance Since 2010 the MBS has been available for some NP’s services.3 In 2015, the Health Minister announced a taskforce for a Healthier Medicare. The taskforce is considering how the more than 5,700 items on the MBS can be aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice, and improve health outcomes for patients. The review is clinician-led with no savings targets attached to the review.4 The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners sees this as an important opportunity for the Australian public, including health professionals to have their say about recommendations proposed by the clinical committees. The College continues to lobby government for greater access for patients to receive reimbursement for NP services, to ensure equity for patients in all areas. We look forward to future reporting on improvements as a result of involvement in ongoing MBS review committees.
References 1. http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/About/Statistics.aspx. 2. http://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/international-medical-graduate/australian-healthcare-system/. 3. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/midwives-nurse-pract -qanda-nursepract#9_3. 4. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/mbsreviewtaskforce.
Dr Grainne Lowe, PhD, NP, FACNP National President Luke Christofis, Nurse Practitioner, SA Chapter Chair Guest co-author 1555-4155/17/$ see front matter © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.08.009
www.npjournal.org
The mission of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners is to serve as the national peak organization for nurse practitioners advancing nursing practice and access to health care. Our vision is to: influence health care policy through advocacy, consumer engagement, and research; instill nurse practitioner knowledge, competency, and capability through access to quality education; and facilitate the development of a community of professional practice. The ACNP is governed by an elected board of directors composed of an executive committee and eight state directors, a patron, and two co-opted members.
ACNP National Office PO Box 637 North Sydney, NSW 2059 Australia Phone: +61 2 9016 4349 Fax: +61 2 9954 0666 [email protected] acnp.org.au
Executive Committee President Grainne Lowe, PhD, NP, FACNP Vice President Lee Poole, MNPractS, NP Secretary Kathleen Tori, MN(NP), FACNP Treasurer Robin Moon, MN(NP), FFACNP Co-Opted Member Jane O’Connell, PhD, NP, FFACNP Co-Opted Member Chris Raftery, MNSc(NP) Co-Opted Member Helen Gosby, MN, NP, FFACNP
Board of Directors Australian Capital Territory Kate Maher, MN(NP) New South Wales Anne Moehead, OAM, NP, MMH, FACNP Northern Territory Lyn Byers, MNP Queensland Suzanne Williams, NP South Australia Luke Christofis, MNP, FFACNP Tasmania Lisa Spoule, MNSc(NP) Victoria Tash Jennings, PhD, NP, FACNP, FACN Western Australia Clinton Fonceca, MNP
The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP
577