Editing Medicare (Australia) (section)

===Medicare (1984–current)===
On 1 February 1984, the original Medibank model was reinstated by the [[Hawke government]], but renamed Medicare to distinguish it from Medibank Private which continued to exist. Bill Hayden, the Minister for Social Security, opens the first Medicare office in Ipswich, Queensland, on 20 January 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medicare Milestones |url=https://www.health.gov.au/medicare-turns-40/medicare-milestones}}</ref>

==== Coordinated Care Trials ====
In 1995, the [[Keating government]] initiated experiments to find more economically efficient ways of delivering health services.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Chapter 4 - Coordinated Care Trials |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate/community_affairs/completed_inquiries/1999-02/pubhosp/report/c04 |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223032941/https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/senate/community_affairs/completed_inquiries/1999-02/pubhosp/report/c04 |url-status=live }}{{clarify|reason=chapter 4 of what?|date=February 2024}}</ref> This took the form of Coordinated Care Trials held from 1997 to 1999. They funded a care coordinator for around 16,000 individuals with complex health needs. The trials found that few cohorts benefited from this form of care.<ref name=":3" />

Further trials were held in 2002 to 2005. They found that people with particularly complex needs could be more effectively treated with coordinated care.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last1=Breadon |first1=Peter |last2=Romanes |first2=Danielle |title=A new Medicare: Strengthening general practice |url=https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/A-new-Medicare-strengthening-general-practice-Grattan-Report.pdf#page=65 |website=grattan.edu.au |access-date=9 July 2024 |page=65 |date=December 2022 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710001448/https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/A-new-Medicare-strengthening-general-practice-Grattan-Report.pdf#page=65 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Medibank Private privatisation ====
In 1997, Medibank Private was separated from the Health Insurance Commission and became its own government-owned enterprise. In 2014, it was then fully privatised by the [[Abbott government|Abbott Government]].<ref name="p753">{{cite web | title=Frequently Asked Questions | website=Department of Finance | date=2014-11-25 | url=https://www.finance.gov.au/business/government-business-enterprises/medibank-sale/frequently-asked-questions-medibank-sale | access-date=2024-07-09 | archive-date=1 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201212624/https://www.finance.gov.au/business/government-business-enterprises/medibank-sale/frequently-asked-questions-medibank-sale | url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Medicare Access Points ====
Extending the Medicare office network, from 2004 many of its services became available through Medicare Access Points in small towns at some community resource centres, state government agencies, pharmacies, post offices and other locations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-06 |title=Healthcare And Social Security |url=https://www.freedommigration.com/healthcare-and-social-security/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Freedom Migration |language=en-AU |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201211320/https://www.freedommigration.com/healthcare-and-social-security/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These were closed in 2011, as HICAPS handled most transitions, and telephone and online services could provide additional service from the home.<ref name="j167">{{cite web | last=Taylor | first=Adrian | title=MP slams Medicare closures | website=couriermail | date=2011-06-05 | url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rockhampton/mp-slams-medicare-closures/news-story/5c8c1071935e1f62653b53ad780e8330?nk=1d43f84315a07e6ea6705788be83abb2-1720569415 | access-date=2024-07-09}}</ref>

==== Easyclaim and successors ====
Easyclaim was launched in 2006, under which a patient would pay the medical practitioner the consultation fee and the receptionist would send a message to Medicare to release the amount of rebate due to the patient's designated bank account. The rebate amount would take into account the patient's concession status and thresholds. In effect, the patient only pays the gap.<ref>[https://www.humanservices.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/medicare/medicare-easyclaim/about/what-you-need-know Medicare Easyclaim is used for Medicare bulk billing and patient claiming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023044926/https://www.humanservices.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/medicare/medicare-easyclaim/about/what-you-need-know|date=23 October 2019}} humanservices.gov.au</ref> In recent years, this has largely been replaced with the [[National Australia Bank]] service HICAPS (Health Insurance Claim at Point of Sale).<ref>{{cite web |title=HICAPS |url=https://www.hicaps.com.au/ |website=hicaps.com.au |language=en |access-date=12 April 2020 |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412220128/https://www.hicaps.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For providers not using HICAPS, patients can make claims on-the-spot (where Medicare will pay the patient at a later date), online, through the Medicare mobile apps, or at Service Australia service centres.

==== Diabetes Care Project ====
From 2011 to 2014, the Diabetes Care Project trailed a coordinated care model that was similar to those used in the earlier Coordinated Care Trials. It was found that this model provided health benefits to those involved; however, the cost of care was not significantly different.<ref name=":4" />

==== myGov and Express Plus Medicare app ====
[[Digital identity in Australia#myGov|myGov]], an online platform for accessing and supplying personal information with the Australian Government was launched in May 2013.<ref name="s669">{{cite web | title=myGov Digital Services | website=Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) | date=2017-06-27 | url=https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/mygov-digital-services | access-date=2024-07-09 | archive-date=10 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710002051/https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/mygov-digital-services | url-status=live }}</ref> It became an important way for people to access their Medicare payment details. The connected Express Plus Medicare app was released in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=2013–14 Annual Report |url=https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/annual-report-2013-14.docx |access-date=10 July 2024 |archive-date=12 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612015209/https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/annual-report-2013-14.docx |url-status=live }}</ref>

From March 2023, Medicare Card holders gained the option of being able to add a digital Medicare Card to their myGov app,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medicare card now available in the myGov app {{!}} Department of Social Services Ministers |url=https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/10791 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=ministers.dss.gov.au |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129020918/https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/10791 |url-status=live }}</ref> removing the need to carry a physical card.

==== National Disability Insurance Scheme ====
A long-standing criticism of the Medicare schedule was its limited coverage of services to improve the lives of people with disability. This was addressed when the [[2013 Australian federal budget|2013 Labor federal budget]] established the [[National Disability Insurance Scheme]], which was progressively rolled out across the country between 2013 and 2020. It provides funding for disability supports which are not covered under Medicare, and is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency and the private and non-government sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=National Disability Insurance Agency |title=About us |url=https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us |access-date=2020-04-19 |website=National Disability Insurance Scheme |archive-date=1 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401234803/https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== "Mediscare" ====
Towards the end of the campaign for the [[2016 Australian federal election]] in July of that year, a text claiming to be from "Medicare" was sent to certain electorates around the nation, saying "Mr Turnbull's plans to privatise Medicare will take us down the road of no return. Time is running out to Save Medicare."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Stephen |date=8 July 2016 |title=Three reasons why we should have seen Labor's 'Medicare SMS' coming |url=https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-why-we-should-have-seen-labors-medicare-sms-coming-62177 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005162924/https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-why-we-should-have-seen-labors-medicare-sms-coming-62177 |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=9 April 2020 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> The leader of the Liberal Party, [[Malcolm Turnbull]], had not announced such plans, and the [[Services Australia|Department of Human Services]] denied sending the message. It had instead been sent by the [[Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Queensland branch of the Australian Labor Party]]. The furore over the text brought attention to the value of Medicare to Australians. The affair was widely dubbed "Mediscare," which in turn was used to describe fears of the Liberal National Party's alleged devolution of Medicare.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Doran |first1=Matthew |last2=Patel |first2=Uma |date=2016-08-02 |title=AFP ends 'Mediscare' text message investigation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-02/mediscare-text-message-investigation-dropped-by-afp/7683390 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710002042/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-02/mediscare-text-message-investigation-dropped-by-afp/7683390 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |access-date=2020-04-19 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

The claims were subsequently given some substance when the Liberal Party voted against a motion including a "guarantee to keep Medicare in public hands as a universal health insurance scheme for all Australians" (and six other Medicare related clauses) in October that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ParlInfo - MOTIONS : Health Care : Division |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/53c9fd8e-e207-4e59-aa4a-a1953f715e20/0129%22 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=parlinfo.aph.gov.au}}</ref>

==== Health Care Homes and MyMedicare ====
9000 patients were involved in the ''Health Care Homes'' trial held from 2017 to 2021, where patients could opt in to register to a 'home' general practice or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service which would be funded to deliver chronic disease care under a fee-for-performance basis instead of fee-for-service.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Health care homes |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2018/May/Health_care_homes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223032938/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2018/May/Health_care_homes |archive-date=23 December 2022 |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> The trial ended in 2021 and was not renewed.

Evaluation of the trial found that patients had greater engagement with general practice and improved influenza vaccination rates, but did not result in improved blood pressure or blood sugar control. There was little impact on the financial burden of health care on patients, however some general practices had greater financial outcomes compared to fee-for-service arrangements. The cost of the scheme to the federal government increased compared to baseline; however, the evaluation report theorised that long-term models had potential to reduce overall costs to both the government and individuals. The model of care was generally well received by general practice staff, however GPs and practice administrators felt that the burden of administration of the scheme, as well as funding caps imposed on the trials, impaired its success.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2022 |title=Health Care Homes trial final evaluation report |url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/08/evaluation-of-the-health-care-homes-trial-final-evaluation-report-2022-main-report.pdf |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=[[Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia)|Department of Health and Aged Care]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Hayley |last2=Best |first2=Megan |last3=Mitchell |first3=Geoffrey |date=2019-12-01 |title=Health Care Homes and whole-person care: A qualitative study of general practitioners' views |url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/december/health-care-homes-and-whole-person-care |journal=Australian Journal of General Practice |volume=48 |issue=12 |pages=867–874 |doi=10.31128/AJGP-05-19-4932|pmid=31774992 }}</ref>

The [[2023 Australian federal budget]] (ALP) established ''MyMedicare''.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Budget 2023–⁠24: Building a stronger Medicare |url=https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/budget-2023-24-building-a-stronger-medicare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015148/https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/budget-2023-24-building-a-stronger-medicare |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref> Similar to the Health Care Homes trial, MyMedicare aims to create a stronger relationship between patients and their main primary health provider, initiated by voluntary registration by patients with a single general practitioner of their choice. Patients taking up the scheme are eligible for additional Medicare benefits for longer telehealth sessions with GPs, and have access to expanded bulk-billed telehealth services if they are in certain targeted groups. MyMedicare participants are also eligible for more Medicare funded services if they frequently attend hospitals or reside in aged care facilities.<ref name="y370">{{cite web | title=Information for MyMedicare patients | website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care | date=2024-05-28 | url=https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/patients#benefits | access-date=2024-07-10 | archive-date=29 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015149/https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/patients#benefits | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="l390">{{cite web | title=Information for MyMedicare general practices and healthcare providers | website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care | date=2024-05-13 | url=https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/practices-and-providers#benefits | access-date=2024-07-10 | archive-date=29 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015150/https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/practices-and-providers#benefits | url-status=live }}</ref>

====Medicare Urgent Care Clinics====
The [[2023 Australian federal budget]] delivered by the [[Albanese government|Albanese Government]] funded the creation of ''Medicare Urgent Care Clinics''.<ref name="a510">{{cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinic |url=https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015149/https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The clinics are designed to provide care for emergent but non-life-threatening presentations, reducing the burden on local emergency departments. Their operation has been contracted to various bodies, mainly for-profit primary health companies. Several state and territories have opened similar clinics, such as the ''Priority Primary Care Centres'' in Victoria and ''Minor Injury and Illness Clinics'' located within satellite health clinics in Queensland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major Milestone For Victoria's Priority Primary Care Centres |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/major-milestone-victorias-priority-primary-care-centres |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304073347/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/major-milestone-victorias-priority-primary-care-centres |archive-date=4 March 2024 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Premier of Victoria |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Priority Primary Care Centres |url=http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/priority-primary-care-centres |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228122925/https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/priority-primary-care-centres |archive-date=28 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Better Health |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2023 |title=Satellite hospitals |url=https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/satellite-hospitals |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503021223/https://www.qld.gov.au/health/services/satellite-hospitals |archive-date=3 May 2024 |access-date=8 June 2024 |website=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>