This report examines affordability and access challenges in mental health care and outlines ways to strengthen Australia’s mental health financial safety net - funding supports that reduce personal treatment costs. The authors identify opportunities for improvement and offer key recommendations to ensure financially vulnerable Australians can access the care they need without falling into hardship.

High-level evidence and stakeholder feedback provided prior to the commencement of the Health Check raised financial viability concerns that potentially impact the health system and patient outcomes. This Health Check on the private hospital sector further develops the evidence base and identify drivers contributing to financial outcomes.

This report compares health system performance in 10 countries, including Australia, to glean insights for U.S. improvement. Australia features in the top three countries with the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Natural disasters have profound repercussions on various societal aspects globally, affecting social dynamics, health outcomes, and economic stability. This study broadens the scope of investigation to encompass the influence of natural disasters on the demand for health insurance.

The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Department of Health’s approach to health provider compliance.