Quick questions on Australian health care system and health services: HSC Health and Movement Science Focus Area 1

Medicare is the national universal health insurance scheme, funded primarily through a 2 percent Medicare Levy on most taxpayers' income. It covers:

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) are primary health care services planned and governed by the local Aboriginal community they serve. The peak body is NACCHO (the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation). The model integrates clinical care, cultural safety, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce development and community governance. ACCHSs are funded through a combination of Commonwealth Indigenous-specific funding, Medicare, and state grants.

Funds Medicare rebates for medical services, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for subsidised medicines, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), private health insurance rebates, and a share of public hospital funding through National Health Reform Agreements.

Operate and co-fund public hospitals, public dental services, public mental health, ambulance services in most jurisdictions, and many public health and prevention programs.

Funds private hospital admissions, ancillary services (dental, optical, physiotherapy) and a portion of medical fees above the MBS rebate. Coverage is incentivised through the Lifetime Health Cover loading, the Medicare Levy Surcharge and the private health insurance rebate.

Households pay gap fees for non-bulk-billed GP and specialist visits, PBS co-payments, dental and allied health that fall outside Medicare, and elective private hospital extras.

Medicare = medical SERVICES (funded by the Medicare Levy); the PBS = MEDICINES (co-payment + Safety Net, PBAC listing). Mixing them up is the single most common slip on this topic.

Federal funds (Medicare, PBS, hospital share); states OPERATE public hospitals, ambulance and public mental health; local government does immunisation and environmental health. Answers that treat the system as Commonwealth-only lose marks.

Replace "the government pays for most of it" with "government funds about 70 per cent of health spending and households about 15 per cent out of pocket (AIHW, 2022-23)", or "life expectancy is among the highest in the OECD (about 81 / 85; AIHW)". A figure WITH a year separates an effectiveness judgement from a vague claim - and for an equity point, tie it to a named group (the ~8 year First Nations gap, ABS 2020-22) or a named lever (the 2023 bulk-billing incentive).

Identify the four major sources of funding for Australia's health care system. [4 marks]

Distinguish between the roles of public hospitals, private hospitals and primary care in the Australian health system. [5 marks]

Explain why Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services are considered better placed than mainstream services to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health needs. [6 marks]