This report provides an overview of the current aged care environment, aged care planning arrangements and the way aged care places are provided. It outlines support for older people on the threshold of aged care, including information, assessment of aged care needs and specialised services such as incontinence assistance and respite for carers. The report...

Instead of centrally planning the future of Australian health care as recommended by the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission, the federal government should establish a national health voucher system and let choice, competition, and patient need determine the right supply of health services required in an ageing Australia. The final report of the National...

Public health expenditure in Australia 2007-08 is the eighth in a series of annual reports on public health expenditure in Australia produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. In that time expenditure on public health activities by health departments has grown, in real terms, by a total of 77.7%, at an average annual...

Legislation passed in 2001 enabled private health insurers to fund alternative models of health care delivery from their hospital tables, and claim against the reinsurance arrangements for these outreach services. This report reviews the operation of the legislation. Overall, the report finds that there appears to be ongoing support by all stakeholders for the concept...

The authors of this paper propose the establishment of local Regional Health Organisations (RHOs) across Australia, with each responsible for the health care needs of a defined population within their region. Australia's unique geography and federated system of governance has, over time, led to a health care system that is fragmented and duplicative, inequitable and...