John Menadue
Publisher and Editor
Callum Foote
Associate Editor
Subscribe to our newsletter
Author Archives: Jennifer Doggett
Lobby Land: the Pharmacy Guild’s powerful influence over health policy
The Pharmacy Guild has been called the ‘most powerful lobby group you’ve never heard of’ and for three decades has had a stranglehold on funding for community pharmacy in Australia.
Posted in Lobbyland, Politics
3 Comments
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Even with massive taxpayer hand outs private health insurance is in a death spiral.(Croakey 7.2.2020)
If private health care has a future within the Australian health system we need to find a better funding mechanism than PHI. This means one that is sustainable, fair and efficient and designed to meet the needs of today’s health … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
2 Comments
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Interpreting Medicare data and bulk billing figures (Croakey)
New Medicare data, released today, has prompted a statement from Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, claiming that “nearly nine out of 10 Australians visit their GPs without paying a cent” and a media interview where he played down the impact … Continue reading
Posted in Health
Leave a comment
JENNIFER DOGGETT and LESLEY RUSSELL. Tackling Out-of-Pocket Costs
At the end of February the Federal Government released the report, twelve months in the making, from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Out-of-Pocket Costs and outlined a national strategy to tackle excessive out-of-pocket costs. It is our opinion that … Continue reading
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Healthcare’s out-of-pocket crisis (Inside Story, 24.10.18)
Fast-rising medical expenses are restricting access to healthcare and increasing long-term costs. If two Australian capital cities were suddenly left without any dental services it would be considered a national crisis. But a problem of this size occurs each year … Continue reading
Posted in Health
4 Comments
JENNIFER DOGGETT. AIHW Health Expenditure Australia 2016-17 report – five key lessons.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released its Health expenditure Australia 2016–17 report. This report contains detailed data on expenditure throughout our health system and is a valuable resource for governments, policy makers and health stakeholders.
JENNIFER DOGGETT and LOUISA GORDON Out-of-pocket costs for healthcare are a problem for all Australians
Editor: Jennifer DoggettAuthor: Louisa Gordon (introduction by Jennifer Doggett)on: June 13, 2018In: Co-payments, health financing and costs, Healthcare and health reform Out-of-pocket health costs (OOPs) are a major challenge facing the Australian health system. Australians pay for a higher proportion … Continue reading
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Health Budget Gaps.
Prevention, out-of-pocket costs, and oral health.
Posted in Health
Leave a comment
JENNIFER DOGGETT. 8th National Health Reform Summit to focus on equity, efficiency and sustainability.
On Tuesday, March 27th the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance (AHCRA) is hosting the 8th National Health Reform Summit in Canberra. This biennial event brings together organisations, experts and individuals working to improve Australia’s health system. This year’s Summit has a … Continue reading
Posted in Health
Leave a comment
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Wasting government funds in subsidising private health insurance.
In the lead up to the recent Federal Budget, the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance (AHCRA) ran a campaign to highlight the inefficiency of using health resources to subsidise private health insurance (PHI). The campaign focussed on calling on the Government to … Continue reading
Posted in Health, Politics
Leave a comment
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Seven Key messages in Health.
This week the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released its Health expenditure Australia 2014–15 report. This document contains a wealth of information about the way in which we allocate resources across our health system. There are many interesting stories … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, Health, Politics
Leave a comment
JENNIFER DOGGETT. Midway through the election campaign, how is health travelling?
It’s half way through the election campaign and both major parties have made some significant health policy announcements with Labor outspending the Coalition on health by over $2 billion (over four years). However, despite the fact that health consistently rates … Continue reading
Posted in Health, Politics
Leave a comment
Jennifer Doggett. Co-payments in the Australian Health System
Policy Series. The growing problem of out-of-pocket health care costs in health care is undermining the benefits of Medicare and creating a barrier to increasing fairness, opportunity and security throughout our health system. Out-of-pocket costs are the direct payments made … Continue reading
Jennifer Doggett. Budget 2014 – Primary Health Care
While some commentators are calling this Budget ‘The end of universal health care’ others are seeing some opportunities to improve health system performance, in particular through better collaborations with state-funded health services and programs. The most high profile Budget measures … Continue reading
Jennifer Doggett. Cutting waste and costs in health.
Cut expensive and low-value services: Health funding is not allocated to areas which deliver maximum output. We spend too much on expensive low-value services and not enough on preventive, high –value care. Recent research shows that a number of routine tests performed … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, Health, Politics
Leave a comment
Repost: Co-payments: no rhyme or reason. Guest blogger Jennifer Doggett
This earlier post is reposted as it is relevant to the question of co-payments which a paper submitted to the Commission of Audit has proposed. Australians are often justifiably proud of Medicare and its role in making health care … Continue reading
Posted in Health
Leave a comment