It can be difficult to make sure that your health is improving or moving to GP. It is not clear where you should go, who you see, how much cost you are, and whether you have to pay time.
Such choices can create a significant barrier to Australia’s health care. Information on the advantages and disadvantages of other options is limited. Often we adhere to what we know, we do not know better alternatives.
However, making a wrong decision on how to approach treatment can affect both health and finance. So what is your choice? And what policy reforms are needed to improve cheap medical approach to all Australians?
How fast can I see?
Access can be seen in the opening of a nurse that depends on the time it takes to talk to the GP or can see the emergency room or community pharmacist or directly. The approach depends on the residential area and time.
The injury of remote medical care means that the GP is now receiving money to talk to you by phone. This is good for obtaining many minor diseases, medical certificates, repeated scripts or test results. The following call center HealthDirect It has become available for some time Virtual emergency room You can also see it online.
There is also a GP that provides only the service. Online If you can pay. You can save valuable time through the phone. I had to spend a half -day vacation to see the GP before COVID. It takes 5-10 minutes now, and the GP even calls.
It is more difficult in situations other than normal working hours, it will be more difficult to end the promise on weekends, it is unlikely that you can see the GP you know, and the cost may be higher.
If you can’t wait, the local emergency room will be easier to access. Emergency treatment clinicWhere no promise is needed. Tomorrow’s Federal Budget It is included Funds for another 29 emergency treatment clinic on 58 already operating.
Hananeko_studio/SHUTTERSTOCK
However, things are much worse if you have to wait much longer or have to travel for a long distance for the countryside, ridiculous areas, choices, and have to wait for a long distance for a GP promise. Remote health is helpful, but it can cost a lot if you are not an ordinary doctor.
Who will I see?
Access depends on the person you can see. Currently this is generally GP (or a community pharmacist or local emergency room employee depending on the seriousness of health problems). But to see your favorite GP, you may need to wait because you are usually very busy.
But A examine In primary care, the “practical range” of “practical range” aims to freely use the time of GPS and use technology more effectively.
Therefore, you can get more health care from the qualified nurses, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals.
But the work that can be delegated to other health professionals is an important bone for GPS. In the case of GP practices facing considerable cost pressure, it is also suitable for business to safely delegate the work safely to the costly health professionals.
More Reading: We use only a part of medical worker technology. This must change
What is the cost?
Access depends on the cost of the copayment. Mass claims for GP services reached the highest point. 89.6% In September 2022, it plunged to 76.5%by September 2023.
In November, the number of incentives in mass claims and concession cards for children under 16 years of age was tripled, and mass claims between November and December 2023 increase 76.5%to 77.7%
The main problem of the patient is that it is not clear whether the GP will claim you. You often do not know this until you go to counseling. Unless it is guaranteed with the entire practice, the mass bills depend on the GP entirely. It’s hard to think of other services that you don’t know how much you will pay until you use it.
National Cancer Institute/Unsplash
How can policymakers improve access to treatment?
Government policies to strengthen primary care focused on improving accessibility through remote health and emergency treatment clinics. Medicare strengthening Initiative currently being developed.
However, uncertainty over the cost of the copayment can prevent people from moving to an emergency room or emergency treatment clinic without being treated, delaying treatment, or instead of paying for their own burden.
The cost is a factor Because of this, 20%of people with mental health problems and 30%of people with chronic diseases delay or avoid visiting health professionals. The most needed people are likely to miss the necessary visits and prescriptions and sometimes have a miserable result. recent study It shows that people can die by blocking heart drugs due to the cost of burden.
The following tasks of policymakers should be developed to ensure that there is no cost for those with low income. This can be a valuable investment in our health and must be included in the budget tomorrow.
