Health and Socio-Political Issues in Age Care †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Health and Socio-Political Issues in Age Care. Answer: Introduction: Primarily, the user pay model is premised on the principle that the consumer be responsible for the cost of the services they are to receive. This approach is being adopted in the healthcare system in Australia for the aged persons. The pay model approach to healthcare seeks to accomplish equity (horizontal).With the user pay model of care, quality and access of heath care services to the aging Population in Australia is likely to improve. However, like any other model of payment, the user pays model has its advantages and disadvantages. Inevitably, the procedure for resource allocation and service provision under the user pays models is changing and likely to lead to equitable and quality aged health care services .The user pay model of care can be considered all stakeholder inclusive. Noteworthy, under the Users pay model, the aged population get to enjoy healthcare services under the comfort of their homes(Smith,-hamilton,2016).This user payment system is good for the aged population because it is able to ensure constant health care to the aging population whether the government subsidies exist or not. With the other government funded subsidies, some aged persons were at the mercy of government funding and would lose out on the services if the funding run out. Under the user payment model, the healthcare are services are brought closer to the aging population. Aging persons are able to receive medical services under familiar environment which is better for recovery for some aging patients. In addition, following the introduction of the User pays model, there is reduced public expenditure into healthcare by the Australian government(Ageing and the N .d).Before the implementation of the user pays model, most healthcare services for the aged was fully funded by the government. Following the user pays model, consumers will bear the costs for their healthcare services. Whereas this is good news for the government, the burden of cost of health care services falls on the consumers. With less government expenditure, the government can channel the money into the provision of other public services. Moreover, under the user pays model, the aged populations gets to receive services of their choosing at the comfort of their homes(Morton,2017).The Australian government has implemented as assessment system where by the aged persons after passing the assessment get to be allocated home care services. The fact that the aged population have a choice in their healthcare decisions takes care of their interests. Owing to this homes based care systems, the aged persons are likely to enjoy specialized and quality healthcare services as compared to being hospitalized in public health care facilities. Remarkably, Australias health expenditure per capita is consider ed among the lowest in the World (NSW Nurses Midwives Association, 2017). Despite the convenience and other benefits of user pays model, there are various setbacks .For some part of the aging population ,the user pays model might deny them access to healthcare services due to their inability to finance it(Australian womens health network,2014).The fact that user pays model means the consumer is to finance his or her medical healthcare, this could be ideal for part of the Australias population who are financially sound and a huge burden to those that are not financially sound. Owing to the expensive nature of some health care services such as chemotherapy, pathology among other serious illness healthcare and supportive services might be very costly for some of Australias aging population. Also, the cost of sustaining the user pays model of care for the aged population is high. Particularly, Australia consumer health contribution is considered 3rd highest among the worlds wealthiest countries according to the Conversation post of 12 th July 2016. Majorly, the Australian healthcare system is funded by the government (Duckett, 2017).Alongside public health cover, some part of the Australian population have implemented their own private insurance on healthcare services. Also, the Australian government has a pharmaceutical benefit scheme which subsidies the price of drugs thus the involvement of government in the health care. In Australia, there is a wider stakeholder approach to its healthcare system .The Australian government, private sector and consumers have a part to play in the administration, financing and provision of health care services for the aged persons (Heti, n. d).Funding for the residential based health care is funded by the commonwealth and other private stakeholders. For community based care of the aged persons, funding partly comes from the Commonwealth and the Australian states. Australias government provision of health care services is offered through the Medicare program. Additional healthcare services prov ided for the government of Australia include carer giver support services, payments and allowances. In addition, the Australian government avails financial incentives in the name of pension and other benefits that extend to health care services and support to the elderly in the comfort of their homes. Under Medicare, the elderly in Australia have access to health care services in public health care services, medical provision and pharmaceutical support for diseases covered under the ambit of the Medicare health care plan. Recently, the Australian aged healthcare sector has undergone some changes. On the funding front, the user pay model has been implemented. Under this user pay model, the aged are required to contribute to the home care healthcare service provision at their respective residential premises .This goes to show how the aged are actively involved in their health care (Egan, 2018).There is a funding collaboration between the government of Australia, Health care providers and the consumers in Australia in an attempt to provide better health care services to its elderly po pulation within its borders. Quality of Health Care Under Users Pays Model Essentially, a public health care system is aimed at providing healthcare services to a wider population of ailing people as opposed to providing quality health care services(Millerand).For most public service health care providers, volume over quantity is the norm. Prior to the introduction of the user pays model, private health care service and support providers were compensated by the government based on the number of aged ailing patients they had provided their services to. This way of going about health care is likely to encourage these private and public health care providers to focus on the volume or number of aged patients as opposed to providing the best quality health care services and support they possibly can. However, with the user pays model, the compensation for the private and public health care providers for the aging population is likely to improve thus likely to lead to the provision of quality healthcare services to the ageing citizens of Australia.(Illutiera ,n. d). This collaborative means of service provision is meant to ensure financial sustainability of the healthcare provision for its elderly citizens but at the same time offer quality service to its recipients. For instance, the Guild, which is a private residential union or association for health care givers to elderly citizens is actively involved in the elderly health care provision in the country. Quality for health care services depends on better financing for equipment, supplies and human labor. With the proper funding which can be achieved through the user pays model, consumers are likely to access quality health care and support services from their care givers .Owing to the special nature of the diseases likely to be suffered by the aging population, more funding might be required for the special needs of the patient which can be guaranteed under the user pays model of care. Essentially, service and resource allocation for the aged under the public health care system in Australia was under the ambit of the Australian government through its Medicare program. Under the Medicare program, the government and the Australian states are responsible for both the service provision and resource allocation for the ailing elderly population. Medicare does not cover all the ailments that the elderly population within its jurisdiction might suffer from thus the need for the affected elderly population to adopt private insurance health covers. Primarily, health care resource allocation and service provision are guided by the patient needs and funding allocations (Hughes Kharvarpour, 2011).Primarily, the aged access to health care resources is under the Australian government which makes an assessment of the elderly and enrolls them into the residential and community based health care(Walker,2018).However, due to the recent health care changes for the aged, the elderly a re eligible for home based care after assessment(Department of outcomes,2010).Under the user pay model, elderly patients are likely to access equitable health care resource allocations due to their contribution to the health care service and support. Conclusion Undoubtedly, the user pay model has its merits and demerits. Under the User pays models, there is collective participation of the Australian government, health care service providers and the consumers which is ideal for any health care service system in the world. The user pays model is set to regulate and improve health care resource allocation and service provision to the aging population of Australians. All in all, the user pays model of care approach is likely to lead to better health care services for the aging population at the comfort of their homes but at a slightly higher prices. When it comes to health and wellness, price shouldnt be an issue. References Ageing and the Health System: Challenges, Opportunities and adaptations .Government of Australia. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/19dbc591-b1ef-4485-80ce-029ff66d6930/6_9-health-ageing.pdf.aspx Australian Womens Health Network. (2014).Enquiry into Out of Pockets Cost in Australian Healthcare. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=b5bdd1d7-9c24-4aa2-83c4-311554b55597subId=252577 Department of outcomes. (2010).Aged Care and Population Ageing. Government of Australia. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/2009-2010_Health_PBS_sup1/$File/Outcome%204%20-%20Aged%20Care%20and%20Population%20Ageing.pdf Duckett, S. (2017, September 21).Australias Health system is enviable, but there is room for improvement. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/australias-health-system-is-enviable-but-theres-room-for-improvement-81332 Egan, N. (2018).Funding a top aged budget priority .Ageing Agenda.Com. Retrieved from https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2018/01/24/funding-top-aged-care-budget-priority H.E.T.I. (N .d).The Australian Healthcare system .Heti. Retrieved from https://www.heti.nsw.gov.au/international-medical-graduate/australian-healthcare-system/ Hughes, A.B Khavarpour F.A. (2011.).Resource allocation and economic evaluation in Australias Healthcare system.US National library of medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21871187 Iturietta, A. (2006).Growing Pains: Implications of an ageing population on planning policy in New South Wales. Retrieved from https://www.be.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/upload/pdf/schools_and_engagement/resources/_notes/5A4_3.pdf Miller, D. H. (n .d).From volume to Value: Better ways to pay for Health Care.. Retrieved from https://healthinsight.org/Internal/assets/Payment_Reform/pdfs/Miller-From_Volume_to_Value-HealthAffairsSept2009.pdf Morton, R. (2017, April 29).Concerns and Costs Around aged care rise as more live longer. The Australian. Retrieved from https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/concerns-and-costs-around-aged-care-rise-as-more-live-longer/news-story/ab9c2d61e04281787555677a444b4741 Smith-Hamilton. (2016, May 10).Changes of aged care lets elderly pay for their services in their homes. ABC News. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-16/changes-to-aged-care-to-user-pays-system/7312008 Walker. T. (2018().Ageing, Justice, and Resource Allocation. Retrieved from https://pure.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/26931926/Ageing.pdf