Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
Search Icon Created with Sketch.
Icons / Login Created with Sketch.
Icons / User Created with Sketch.
Search Icon Created with Sketch.

Does the proposed patient contribution for health services disadvantage those having difficulties managing on income?

Approved: 2014

Collaborators:

  • Dr Paul Gardiner
  • Prof Annette Dobson
  • Prof Gita Mishra
  • Prof Nancy Pachana
  • A/Prof Deirdre McLaughlin
  • Dr Geeske Peeters

Synopsis

In the 2014 federal budget the government proposed that patient contributions of $7 for general practitioner, pathology and diagnostic imaging services be introduced in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. (1) This study seeks to examine whether women who report difficulty managing on income access more health care services than women who report no difficulties managing on income, and would thus be differentially disadvantaged by the proposed co-payment.