Private Hospitals Back Medicare Gold

Labor's $2.9 billion scheme for free hospital treatement to Australians over 75 has won the backing of private hospitals who yesterday said the plan could work and would cut waiting lists.

The Australian Private Hospitals Association Chief Executive Mr Michael Roff said "There is some spare capacity (now), "We can plan to meet that extra demand between now and 2006".

Currently private hospitals average only 75 to 80 per cent occupancy.

Catholic Health Care Chief Executive Frances Sullivan, who has long advocated a plan similar to Medicare Gold said public hospitals could add 5000 admissions and the private sector 1500 admissions "without having to employ anybody extra".

"The capacity is already there", Mr Sullivan said "I think once people see a programme like this working it will encourage investment".

Bruce Dixon, Managing Director of Melbourne based Healthscope, said Medicare Gold was an important reform that "breaks down that whole barrier between public and private".

The HSU has consistently pointed out the unmet capacity in private hospitals and was an early voice in calling for a system like Medicare Gold.

Medicare Gold will:

• Extend medicare into universal hospital coverage - public and private - for Australians aged 75 and over.

• Reduce hospital waiting lists for all age groups

• Provide better value for money with private hospital insurance - savings of more than 12 per cent.

printer-friendly version

© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
This page: http://www.hsua.org.au/campaigns/puthealthfirst/news/1096583775_10269.html
Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:27 EST