Lived Experience Forum

[mrkotter]

Thought I would make a space for any health related announcements that might be in the budget tonight.

The Budget Papers will be released at 7.30 at http://www.budget.gov.au/ 

For those wanting to take a look announcements relating to mental health will be found in Budget Paper 2 (all announcements are listed here), look under health. PBS listings will also be found under the health portfolio in budget paper 2. 

For those that are playing along at home. If you want to know if the government is full of shit or not go to budget paper 1 and look up the forcasts for growth, employment and the iron ore price. If they aren't all pointing in the right direction then they are full of it.

Don't bother looking at the deficit number they are based on those numbers above. 

[mrkotter]

The Government will achieve efficiencies of $925.3 million over two years from 1 July 2018 by extending the pause on indexation of Medicare Benefits Schedule fees for all services provided by general practitioners, medical specialists, allied health and other health practitioners until 30 June 2020.

So no increase in medicare rebates.

The Government will continue the pause on indexation of the income thresholds for the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Private Health Insurance Rebate for a further three years. This will achieve efficiencies of $744.2 million over three years from 1 July 2018.

Your insurance ain't gonna get any cheaper.

The Government will provide $0.8 million over two years from 2015‑16 to develop online support resources for women who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, perinatal depression.

The cost of this measure and for the ongoing management of the online support tools will be met from within the existing resources of the Department of Health.

Since this funded by the existing department budget don't expect much.

No new medications listed for MH

The Government will provide up to $2.9 billion over the forward estimates in additional funding to the states and territories (the states) for public hospitals. 

Previously announced. Depending on how hospitals spend the money it may benefit MH.

The Government will introduce legislation to allow charges to be imposed on licences granted under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1976. Any revenue collected will support the licensing scheme for the regulation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific use.

This is positive for future research.

So f all really. 

[Sanebo]

Big issue is around Govt efforts to reduce number of people on DSP.  Last time this happened around 60% of people who had lost DSP when "under 35s" was reviewed had been granted DSP on basis of mental health condition.  

If there are to be "no cuts to mental health funding" then any savings, including from lowered DSP payments should go back into MH programs and not just for NDIS.

To be fair to govt there is lots underway in terms of reform with Primary Health Networks but big question mark around how well PHNs can deliver MH outcomes and how that will be measured - need to ensure its not Commonwealth Govt passing the buck down the line

[theaveragejoe]

Dear Sanebo,

I can only say, from what my friends tell me, that there have been terrible budget cuts, especially in psychosis prevention initiative. There are cuts everywhere and the reforms that this Liberal Government spoke about, now been put into practice,  are totally misguided when we look at the real life outcome. No doubt that some of these reforms will cost more money in the long run. Cutting funds blindly does not always save money. Actually, it often ends up costing  more. But the costs are often hidden.

[hope77]

Just thinking about Government election this Sat I think Labor is the way to go. I saw a program o tv where Bill Shorten said he supported Julia Gillard on the disability Scheme. Looked at the Scheme online and i think it would be of benefit me what do others think

[mrkotter]

@hope77 when you look at Labor's policy statement there isn't much new. In the business it's known as an 'announceable' 

Frankly I wouldn't expect much for mental health in the next parliament.

[hope77]

hey @mrkotter thanks for the link to labor's policy look at lib's as well. nothing new for labor your right lib's are working on a digital gateway that offers help to link you up with what's available in your area. that could be good but I hope they let people know about it. they say it can be tailored to your needs. but with me not living in a major city the chances of them having what people need is lessened