- Anthony Albanese announces Medicare reforms
- Health Minister said system wasn’t fit for purpose
- Every Aussie will now receive a MyMedicare ID (with no opt-out)
Anthony Albanese has detailed his government’s reforms of Medicare – including a ‘patient ID’ system, giving nurses and pharmacists more primary care power and improving after-hours care.
Following a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Mr Albanese announced the states had endorsed his $2.2billion plan to strengthen Medicare – after Health Minister Mark Butler announced earlier this year that the system is no longer fit for purpose.
The PM says the new measures will improve access to after-hours care, expand nursing workforce and cut down on soaring costs in the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
A patient ID system called MyMedicare will also be introduced as part of six reform measures outlined at national cabinet.
The ID system is intended to help register Aussies with their local doctor and allow the government to understand what issues are forcing people to get medical attention.
Mr Albanese said health would be the main focus for national cabinet for 2023, with reform in the sector to be discussed at a meeting in the last quarter of the year.
‘One of the things identified is patients who will regularly turn up at emergency departments. We want to make sure that there is registration there so we can reach out,’ he told reporters on Friday.
National cabinet also discussed the National Disability Insurance Scheme, committing to a framework to ensure it is made more financially viable.
Mr Albanese said the NDIS was not sustainable at present and it was set to be the biggest cost to the federal budget.
More than $720 million has been committed to boost the capability of the agency in charge of the scheme to better support participants.
‘We need to have a sustainable growth trajectory for the NDIS in order to support equity and fairness for all Australians who are living with disability, including those not eligible for the NDIS,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘We want to make sure that the promise of the NDIS is fulfilled.’
The NDIS framework calls for a target of no more than eight per cent annual growth in the scheme’s costs by July 2026.
State and territory leaders also agreed to support plans for national cabinet to develop reforms for improving the rights of renters.
‘What we’re not seeking to do is to be absolutely uniform because different states will have different circumstances, but there are measures and commitments every state and territory is doing something in this area,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘There are a range of measures that will be considered by state and territory governments to strengthen the system of renters’ rights.’
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley earlier said the Medicare system needed more support.
‘Wrangling the state premiers has become a bit of a national sport,’ she said.
‘People need access to doctors, and absolutely, that discussion today is a vital one. We do need to have our healthcare system back where it was.’
It was the first national cabinet meeting for newly elected NSW Premier Chris Minns, leaving Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff as the only Liberal leader in the group.