The 2018 Federal Budget – with its focus on rural health and aged care – has been labelled “safe and steady” by the AMA, but has attracted criticism for neglecting preventive health.
Doctors’ groups have welcomed a decision not to fund the proposed Murray Darling medical school, opting instead to create a network of medical schools in the region to boost training in the bush. There are new MBS items and new PBS-subsidies for expensive medications, many that have been previously announced.
Medicare
From 1 July 2018, fees for GP and specialist consultation items will be indexed
From 1 July 2019, fees for procedures performed by specialists and allied health items will be indexed
On 1 July 2020, targeted diagnostic imaging items will be indexed for the first time since 2004
Medicare spending to increase from $22.9 billion in 2017/18 to $27.2 billion by 2020/21
New MBS item for 3D mammography test for the early detection of breast cancer
Consolidate items for thyroidectomy
Double the rebate for spirometry to $40 for GPs
New item for GPs to refer patients with high pre-test probability for moderate to severe OSA for sleep study
Expansion of the Insulin Pump Program for children with type 1 diabetes, with funding for 280 pumps up from 66
Pharmaceuticals/PBS
PBS spending to be capped: forward estimates of $10.69 billion by 2020 (from $10.95 billion in 2017/18)
$1.4 billion for new and amended listings on PBS includes:
- Nusinersen (Spinraza) from 1 June for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.
- Ribociclib (Kisqali) from 1 July for the treatment of breast cancer
Reduced funding for NPS MedicineWise and National Return of Unwanted Medicines
$302.6 m in savings over forward estimates by encouraging greater use of generic and biosimilar medicines
Workforce/Training