The MUCHE Health Report 2019

ANALYSIS OF THE 2019-2020 FEDERAL HEALTH BUDGET

Executive Summary

While some have labelled this a cash splash Budget, health portfolio expenditure has been shackled. This fits within a recent trend of ever lower annual expenditure growth since 2016-17.

There will be a 2 per cent increase in real expenditure from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Most of this growth comes in the last two years of Budget projections. Australians face a reduction in per capita health portfolio expenditure over the next two years.

This is a grass roots Health portfolio budget, with the Australian Government looking to garner approval from local communities. It has allocated funding to several individual infrastructure projects, health programs and not-for-profit groups.

The centrepiece Budget item is the $1.1 billion allocated over five years to support primary care. Aged care was allocated $724.8 million over the next five years for residential care and Home Care packages, but most of this funding was already announced.

This Budget continues to implement the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, allocating funds to after-hours mental health treatment centres, and to reduce our alarming youth suicide rate.

The Australian Government has missed an opportunity to tackle some pressing healthcare issues associated with obesity, public hospital waiting lists, and high out-of-pocket costs.

To find out how the Budget could affect health and human services, click on the link below. There you can view or download our report, which summarises the context and key changes in:

• Aged care
• Disability
• Hospitals
• Mental health
• Pharmaceuticals
• Pharmacy
• Primary care and medical services
• Private health insurance