Budget breakthrough for nurses: nurse practitioners and midwives recognised in program to boost public health

Lamp, The, June, 2009

Federal Labor's 2009-2010 Budget announced last month provides a record $64 billion in health and hospital funding.

It sets out to limit Government subsidies for private health insurance paid to higher-income earners.

And in a significant breakthrough for the nursing profession, it gives nurse practitioners and midwives access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule for the first time.

General Secretary of the NSW Nurses' Association, Brett Holmes, said the union particularly welcomed the decision to allow rebates for prescriptions, referrals and diagnostic tests ordered by nurse practitioners and midwives.

From November 2010, medicines prescribed by nurse practitioners and eligible midwives will come under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. Diagnostics tests and referrals ordered by nurse practitioners and eligible midwives will attract rebates under the Medical Benefits Scheme. And there will be a Government-supported professional indemnity insurance scheme for eligible midwives.

Brett said the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, had recognised the need for highly-qualified nurses and midwives to play a greater role in health care.

'People will now be able to receive care from nurse practitioners and midwives without facing additional expenses not imposed on doctors' patients.'

The Budget includes $1.5 billion to upgrade 17 hospitals around Australia, including $96 million to redevelop Nepean Hospital in western Sydney.

Cancer treatment gets a $1.3 billion boost, including $560 million to build a network of up to 10 regional cancer facilities.

To help pay for these measures, the Budget places a tiered means test on the 30% private health insurance rebate, in order to save $1.9 billion over the next four years.

From July 1 next year, the 30% rebate will be reduced for singles earning more than $75,000 a year, and families with an income greater than $150,000.

The rebate will be wiped out altogether for singles earning more than $120,000 and families earning more than $240,000.

'The NSWNA has long argued that spending on the private health insurance rebate has been growing unsustainably,' Brett said.

'It has drained resources away from the public health system and unduly benefited people on high incomes.

'Under the means test, the great bulk of the population will continue to receive 30% off the cost of premiums.'

The Liberal/National Coalition has vowed to vote against the means test in the Senate. The Opposition challenged the Government to replace the means test with a 12.5% increase in tobacco excise, which, it claimed, would deliver an identical saving of $1.9 billion.

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