Australian Patients Association

🩺💰 Understanding Out-of-Pocket Costs in Healthcare 💰🩺   Have you noticed rising expenses for specialist visits? You're not alone. As Medicare covers less, many patients are feeling the financial strain.   In a recent article in The Conversation https://lnkd.in/g9ZpimUH, new analysis from the Melbourne Institute and University of Melbourne highlight the key challenges of these rising costs and what can be done? 📌 Here are some important steps to consider: 1. Advocate for Policy Change: Support initiatives that push for fair pricing and better coverage. 2. Discuss Costs Upfront: Don't hesitate to ask your healthcare provider about fees before your visit.  3. Explore Alternative Care Options: Look into community health centres or telehealth services for more affordable care.   Together, we can raise awareness and work towards a healthcare system that is #accessible and #affordable for all. Let's make our voices heard! 💪✨ #HealthcareCosts #PatientAdvocacy #Medicare #OutOfPocketExpenses #HealthEquity

We’re excited to share insights from our latest bulletin, featuring key updates and discussions in Australian healthcare!

Advocating for Timely Access to New Medicines The Australian Patients Association welcomes the recent Health Technology Assessment (HTA) review recommendations, which emphasize the importance of streamlining and #faster #access to all #medicines for all #Australians. This is a critical step towards ensuring that #patients receive #timely and #affordable #treatments, #improving overall health #outcomes. From a patient’s #perspective, the #impact of new medicines cannot be overstated. #Delays in access can significantly affect #quality of life and health #management. The #StrongerPBS campaign developed by Medicines Australia highlights the urgent need for a system that prioritizes patients, ensuring they can access the medications they need without unnecessary #barriers. We urge stakeholders to collaborate in making these recommendations a reality. Together, we can pave the way for a healthier future. Read the full media release here: APA Media Release https://lnkd.in/dGYVErsW   Learn more about the impact of new medicines:  Stronger PBS https://lnkd.in/gCwTDzUb #AustralianPatientsAssociation #HealthForAll #StrongerPBS #AccessToMedicines #PatientAdvocacy

🌍💊 Happy World Pharmacists Day! 💊🌍 On September 25, we celebrate the incredible work of pharmacists across Australia and the globe! With around 37,000 pharmacists in nearly 6,000 community pharmacies, they're stepping up to meet our healthcare needs like never before. As we recognize their dedication, let's also acknowledge the growing trust patients place in them for health advice and medicines management. Join us in expressing gratitude—follow The Pharmacy Guild of Australia on social media and share the special WPD video https://lnkd.in/gsY9eFVY! Use #WPD2024 to join the conversation and show your appreciation for our healthcare heroes! Thank you, pharmacists! 🙌✨

Key Takeaways from the Australian Healthcare Index August Report and Recent Webinar The #Australian #Healthcare Index August report sheds light on pressing trends and challenges facing our #healthcare system. Notably, it highlights the need for enhanced #innovation and #strategic action to address #gaps and improve #patient #outcomes. In the recent webinar, key speakers including Healthengine CEO Dan Stinton, Patient #Advocate Jodie L. Guerrero, GP and Healthengine Medical Advisor Dr Amandeep H. and Australian Patients Association CEO David Clarke delved deeper into these findings, offering #insightful discussions on potential solutions and future directions. Their analysis and recommendations are crucial for anyone involved in healthcare #policy and practice, and their expertise and #perspectives are invaluable for navigating current #challenges and shaping future healthcare strategies. Catch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/gsFRMhbQ and explore the detailed report for a comprehensive understanding of the current healthcare landscape: Read the Report https://lnkd.in/gdMcURCa Let's engage and work together to drive positive change in our healthcare system! #Healthcare #HealthcareInnovation #AustralianHealthcare #HealthPolicy #WebinarInsights

Our CEO David Clarke was at #Parliament House in #Canberra this week, attending the Medicines Australia annual #PharmAus 2024 event. This years theme was “Accelerating #patient access to new medicines” where the Albanese Government released the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) review final report and the Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process recommendations. The Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process report proposes 10 recommendations for consideration by the Minister for Health and Aged Care (the Minister) which are: 1. Provide transparent communications and timely notifications to enhance the clarity of HTA processes and enable timely consumer engagement. 2. Coordinate centralised and expanded consumer support to facilitate engagement across the health technology pathway. 3. Develop a process for consumer identification to expand the diversity of consumers engaged in HTA processes. 4. Provide accessible resources and training to support equitable consumer engagement in HTA. 5. Elevate consumer evidence and input for consideration in HTA deliberations and decision-making. 6. Establish guidance to enable early and continuous collaboration between stakeholders. 7. Further develop processes to enable consumer-identified items for HTA Committees’ considerations. 8. Establish a consumer feedback loop following HTA Committee recommendations to provide insight into how consumer input has been used to inform the assessment of health technologies. 9. Develop a consumer digital portal to connect consumers with information and resources required for consumer engagement. 10. Ensure consumer engagement is informed by consumer-focused horizon scanning processes and opportunities The Australian Patients Association has provided their support and advice during this consultative process alongside more than 50 other patient organisations. We all advocate for #faster #access to #new and #innovative #medicines, #vaccines and #technologies and want no patient left behind. In doing so, we also believe it is critically important to maintain the safety and efficacy of Medicines. A special thank you to Ann Single for being the consumer representative on the review committee and for all of the co-design working group members for the enhanced consumer report Sharon Winton Karen van Gorp (she/her) Nicole Millis Cara Philpott Genevieve Handley Petrina Keogh Hayley Andersen Liz Marshall Rebecca Pitman The next step is for the creation of a implementation committee including #patient representatives and Australian Patients Association is at the ready to be an active participant. Here's the link to HTA Review report: https://lnkd.in/dE3Utp5k Here's the link to the Enhanced Consumer Engagement Process: https://lnkd.in/g4Z5ya9u

🚨 Reminder: Applications close this Friday, 13 September 2024, at 5 PM AEST! Don’t miss your chance to apply. ⏳✨ #Deadline #Reminder #ApplyNow

Patient Awards and the upcoming webinar

Dr Nick Coatsworth Ambassador for the Australian Patients Association presented at the recent "Managing Healthcare Amid Rising Living Costs" webinar highlighted some of the key challenges for those accessing aspects of the #healthcare #system. Practical questions to ask: *It's important to know any costs associated with your care or surgery. Ask your doctor/surgeon for these up-front costs to make an informed decision. *If you have private health insurance, check what is covered and what isn't, so you know if there are any gap fees. Any other tips you have found that works for you? For those that missed it and would like to watch it back, you can find a recording of the webinar here - https://lnkd.in/gTG95DZD John Crothers John Emmerson Petrina Keogh Michele Robbins Steve Mason #dontwaitmate