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How Medicare Rebate cuts may impact the patient, other than cost

Previously I looked at the financial aspects of the proposed cuts to the Medicare Rebate. This article assumes knowledge of the previous article. There are non-financial impacts we seriously need to consider. In this article I look at Continuing Professional Development (a doctor impact) and treatment delay (a patient and community impact).

Policies, based only on financial considerations, that discourage people from seeking treatment at the earliest (and therefore cheapest) opportunity are knee-jerk reactions at a momentary point in time with no thought for the future or the non-financial impact of those policies. Research shows such short-term “savings” actually result in higher costs and sicker people in the long-term.

Mother and newborn

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You’ve been targeted: supporting the AMA and RACGP supporting us

Should I just put a down payment on my coffin now, Scott?

The identity of my Goliath has changed. Right at this moment “Love versus Goliath” can be translated to love for my own health and Goliath, yet again, is the government. Different political persuasion, this government, but essentially the same beast. This isn’t just about the unemployed or low-income earners. ANYONE can suddenly discover they are unwell. ANYONE! It happened to me, it can happen to you too.

Source: RACGP

Source: RACGP

I am writing from my personal perspective to illustrate the potential scope of proposed changes to Medicare and the looming doom is a worry. I am gainfully, at the moment anyway, employed. I do earn a reasonable salary. I also have four children at home who strangely are not partial to starving so I can have blood tests. I consider myself “typical”. Not rich by any means, but not on social welfare either. If it is going to be tougher for me, I can only imagine how much tougher for those really struggling financially.

Although it has taken me some time to adjust to the idea I am not well, I’m not. At the moment I am seeing three medical specialists, a general practitioner, a physiotherapist and have just finished a series of support sessions from a psychologist. I’ve had countless blood tests, faeces tests, urine tests, x-rays, a whole body nuclear bone scan, CT scans, ultrasounds, cortisone shots and a nuclear thyroid scan. I’ve also paid a $500 hospital admission co-payment. All since October 2014. I have medications to keep me functioning so I can keep working: these cost money. Not all the blood tests have any rebate available at all, 100% out-of-pocket. If I don’t keep working I become a “burden to the taxpayer”, do I not? Yet make no mistake, if I can’t afford my treatment, I will be unable to work.

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Juggling drugs, rest, exercise – but never the ironing

Right. That’s it. I’m over this situation. Miracle cure, now. please. I so, so, so feel for those whose health is way worse than mine, because this is bad enough.

This week has been my second week on the medication that is hoped to pull my over-active, uninvited, toxic thyroid nodules into line and by yesterday I was, indeed, starting to feel better. In fact I even felt like dancing in the local supermarket this morning. Not that I did mind you. That would have looked silly, dancing with a cucumber and tomatoes: I just felt like it. There was a song in my brain.

I allowed myself a guilty pleasure. Don’t ask why it is on the grass – I was being artistic.

Guilty Pleasure - Magnum YUM

Guilty Pleasure – Magnum YUM

The week has been a bit up and down. If I can remember through the brain fog (I couldn’t so I checked my calendar), it was Monday I went to the gym. Just, you know, to get in some exercise. I did well, I thought, considering. Twenty minutes on the treadmill (at what I considered a crawl), some leg extensions, leg press, bicep curls and chest press (arthritis needs muscle strength) and I used really light (to me) weights. However Tuesday I was a washout. TOTALLY! My physiotherapist shook her head at me sadly after I’d listed my activity the previous day.

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Today’s Neros fiddle while our planet burns

Climate change. What causes it? Is it happening? Do we need to “do” anything? Carbon taxes, prices, emissions…. the questions are endless.

The climate on this planet has changed in the past. There was an ice-age, you will recall. Not many humans around then, so we know some climate change is natural. Then there are the questions around the demise of the Mayan civilisation. Climate is currently considered a major factor, presumably not man-made. There were a LOT less humans back then, doing a lot less damage. Farmers know all about overgrazing and I suggest humans are “over grazing” this planet.

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Sexual predators can go to hell

This may well end up being a nonsensical rant, but I’ve just read Prince Andrew is named in a lawsuit in the US over under-age sex allegations.

In the last twelve months we’ve had SO MANY high profile convicted or alleged offenders.

To name a few, it started, if I recall, with Rolf Harris, arrested in England. Then we moved on to Robert Hughes, the star of “Hey Dad”. Next in the firing line was none other than Bill Cosby, who while not yet before the courts is known to have made an out-of-court settlement in the past.

What the fuck is wrong with these people? Children and women are not your damn toys. Who the hell do these criminals think they are?

What’s more, these were men most would have thought beyond reproach. Pillars of their professions and communities. Most of them I respected as artists and I thought Prince Andrew was OK as royals go (and royals do have a bit of a reputation, most notably perhaps for chopping off the heads of wives).

Who the hell can we actually trust? Anyone? What is wrong with the human race?

Rant over. Feel free to add your personal rants below!

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On being irresistible

This is a very good analysis of the concept of irresistibility and who is responsible in a relationship for the power attached thereto. Highly recommended reading!

Dr Jennifer Wilson's avatarNo Place For Sheep

Perhaps I’m contrary and ungrateful but I never felt good about being told by a lover  “You are irresistible.” I’d much rather he or she said something like  “I can’t resist you” and in that utterance, joyfully assumed the burden of supernatural compulsion instead of burdening me with it.

It would also be much more honest if things went wrong and my lover said “I now can/must resist you because my wife caught me, or I found someone else, or I’ve changed my mind” or whatever event provoked a change in his or her assessment of the situation. Instead of undermining my sense of myself with their change of heart, the responsibility then properly rests with the one whose desires, for whatever reason, have shifted.

I’ve never in my life found anyone to be irresistible. I’ve been overwhelmed by desire, overwhelmed by love, overwhelmed by seriously significant stupidity, but overwhelmed…

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Australian Partner Visa fee increases AGAIN

I cannot believe the Immigration Department raising the fees for Partner Visas AGAIN! Early last year I wrote an investigative series on the high price of love. Back then the on shore application fee was $4,575. Now the fee is $6,865. That is just for the partner, no application related costs or even children! The fees for children included in the application have risen dramatically too. There seems to be a problem with the web page, as the headings don’t show, but the columns to the right are for children over and under 18. The column with N/A in it is headed “Non-internet application charge” so we can assume that is coming.

On shore application Partner Visa

On shore application Partner Visa

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Forever Young in 2015

http://twitter.com/TeamOyeniyi/status/550096645757468672

I’m one of the younger baby boomers. This morning as I listened to yet ANOTHER doctor tell me something (frayed, inflamed tendons in this case) was COMMON at my age, I had an epiphany.

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This site’s 2014 in review according to the stats monkeys

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 130,000 times in 2014. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 6 days for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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Christmas Cabinet Reshuffle a gift to the Australian people

Despairing of the costs to the taxpayer of the disabled and unemployed members of Australian society, Abbott decided it was necessary to take action to ensure by Christmas 2015 the taxpayers would be able to spend more of their hard-earned money on their own families, rather than paying taxes to support the vulnerable in society.

This job clearly needed a firm, moral, Christian head. Looking over his team at who had the best record of taking care of vulnerable people, Morrison’s aura shone brightly. He had stopped the boats carrying so many desperate people and removed any that did arrive, protecting the jobs of Australians. While Morrison’s approach had cost the taxpayer billions in private contractor arrangements, the longer term benefits for the Australian people were obvious. #TeamAustralia would be protected.

Morrison was therefore the clear front-runner to protect hard working Australian families from the disabled and unemployed. He could apply the same Christian principles to the Social Services portfolio as he had to Immigration. While it might be difficult, legally, to ship Australian citizens off to Nauru or Manus, concentration camps could be established on Tasmania. This would have the added benefit of improving employment figures on that island.

By Christmas 2015 Medicare will be eradicated, saving the Australian taxpayer billions that can be better utilised by increasing tax rebates to mining and other industries.  The Medicare Levy will not be rescinded though, as this will simply be absorbed into general revenue to fund well deserved pay rises for parliamentarians. Naturally this will be a bi-partisan move.

The unemployed will all be gainfully employed in a Work for the Dole scheme so they can be productive members of society. Ironing is one job that could be done by the female unemployed, ensuring all working Australians have pressed shirts every day. Of course, women really should be considering the appropriateness of working at all as there is a lot to be said for the social norms of the 1950s.

Centrelink staff numbers will be halved, but those receiving the Disability Support Pension will need to confirm weekly, with a medical certificate from a government approved doctor, that they are still unable to join the Work for the Dole scheme. Those who are clearly permanently disabled and cared for in the Tasmanian camps will only be required to confirm their disability once a year.

It is expected by Christmas 2015 the terrible waste of taxpayers money currently being spent on Social Services will have been curtailed, just as the boats were stopped. It will be a wonderful gift to the Australian people.

Footnote: This article in The Sydney Morning Herald from April 2013 was drawn to my attention today Jan 1, 2015. If you think the above scary, try Kill poor to fix budget, writes lobbyist with Liberal links.