Cuts to subsidised psychology sessions causing clients to 'ration' care, health workers warn
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Loading... - Anna Pedersen
- 25 Jan 2023
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Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is facing a revolt from mental health experts, who want his government to reinstate "lifesaving" cheaper psychology sessions.
Key points:
- 1. Health workers warn psychology clients are skipping sessions or considering stopping care following government cuts
- 2. The federal government last month halved the number of cheaper psychology sessions available to people
- 3. Health professionals are warning the cuts will lead to more people needing acute care
Several groups representing psychologists, emergency service workers and allied health professionals have penned a letter to Mark Butler calling on him to restore additional mental health support, or risk patients spilling over from psychology practices into already over-burdened emergency departments.
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morrison government announced a $100 million commitment to double the number of Medicare-subsidised mental health sessions available to patients each year, from 10 to 20.
Late last year, the new Labor government announced the so-called "Better Access Initiative" would revert to 10 subsidised sessions, arguing an independent report by the University of Melbourne found the program was not serving all Australians equally, and that those from lower-socio economic backgrounds and regional areas were missing out.
However, the report also stated that on balance, "the evidence from the evaluation suggests that the additional 10 sessions should continue to be made available and should be targeted towards those with more complex mental health needs." Read More…
