unit 3 AOS 2

• public health refers to actions of the government to promote health and wellbeing and prevent illness
• the biomedical model focuses on the physiological or biological aspects of disease and illness. its a medical model of care practised by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis, cure and treatment of disease
• the Ottawa charters action areas include: building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills and reorienting health services (bad cats smell dead rats)
• the ottawa charter aims to enable people to take control over and improve their health
• old public health is the improvement of population health through government actions before approximately 1970s
• old public health strategies include removal of housing slums, establishment of better water and sewage systems (sanitation) quarantine policies, developed mass immunisation policy and improved working conditions
• advantages of biomedical approach is that it expands life expectancy and improves quality of life
• new public health is the second revolution in public health, onwards from 1970s.

  def: an approach to health that expands on the traditional focus of individual behavioural change to one that considers the ways in which the physical, sociocultural and political environments impact on health
• the social model of health is a framework which improvements in H&W are achieved by directing effort towards addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants (factors) of health
• principles of the social model of health include: empower individuals and the community, enables access to health care, addressing the broader determinants of health, acts to reduce social inequities and intersectoral collaboration (IDEAR)
• advantages of social model of health include: encourages good health through prevention and is aimed at population level so it’s therefore more cost effective
• disadvantages of social model of health: not all conditions can be prevented, and health messages may be ignored
• disadvantages of biomedical approach to health: very expensive, doesn’t always focus on good H&W (intervention not prevention)
• ottowa charters strategies for health promotion include: advocate (stand up for), enable (give people control) and mediate ( work together)
• biomedical: focuses on individual and cure. not all conditions can be treated

  social: focuses on population and prevention. not all conditions can be prevented.
• medicare is australia’s universal health insurance scheme which provides access to healthcare subsidised by the government
• medicare is funded through:

  medicare levy: 2% of taxable income for most tax payers

  medicare levy surcharge: additional 1-1.5% tax for high income earners who don’t have private health insurance

  general income tax: medicare levy and surcharge don’t fund enough so general tax such as gst contributes
• fees for doctors:

  bulk billing - when the doctors charge only the schedule fee so there’s no out of pocket expenses

  schedule fee - the amount medicare will contribute

  patient co-payment - difference between schedule fee and the total amount paid
• medicare is sustainable by the medicare levy surcharge encouraging people to get private health insurance so there’s less strain on medicare system
• medicare is equitable from the safety net as those who need more frequent medical services covered by medicare get more support financially
• medicare is accessible as it is subsidised so every australian citizen can access it
• medicare safety net provides extra financial support to those spending large out of pocket expenses on medicare health services
• the PBS aims to provide essential medicines for people who need them at a subsidised cost regardless of their ability to pay
• PBS safety net assists individuals and families if their out of pocket expenditure on PBS medicines exceeds a certain amount
• the PBS is funded by the federal government through general tax payers
• PBS is sustainable by continually reviewing medicines available in PBS which means those that will have the greatest benefits are prioritised, keeping scheme sustainable
• PBS is accessible as it provides all australian citizens to be entitled to access subsidised medicines through PBS
• PBS is equitable from the PBS safety net which protects people from large overall expenses on PBS medicines
• NDIS provides services and support for people under the age of 65 with permanent significant disabilities and their family and caters. this allows them to build skills and capabilities and to have an ordinary life
• the NDIS can provide: access to mainstream services and support, access to community services and support and maintain informal support arrangements. for example, employment opportunities and introduction to community activities
• NDIS is funded by the commonwealth government and the states and territories
• NDIS is sustainable from each participant who can receive individual plans meaning only necessary funds are spent on each person, resulting in more access and improved health outcomes
• NDIS is equitable from the individualised plan which ensures that those with more significant needs receive more assistance
• NDIS is accessible by providing access to health services for people with significant lifelong disabilities
• private health insurance provides individuals with additional healthcare services than those provided by medicare
• premiums are a few you pay each month for your private health insurance depending on your chosen insurance (level of insurance, eg bronze)
• 4 main incentives of PHI are private health insurance rebate, lifetime health cover, medicare levy surcharge and age based discount
• PHI rebate is funded by the federal government making it more affordable
• PHI is sustainable from lifetime health cover as those who don’t have PHI before 30 have to pay an extra 2% tax which provides money for future needs
• private health insurance is accessible from providing discounts and rebates making it more affordable for people with low incomes