From David Smith MP - May/June eNews

As a Labor government, we will always invest in Medicare, cheaper medicines and public health so Australians get the care they need, when they need it. The Budget includes another $25 billion for public hospitals.

We’re also investing $5.9 billion to list more medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, so Australians continue to access life changing medicines at cheaper prices.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics like the one in Woden reduce out of pocket costs, because more bulk billing means less pressure on household budgets and emergency departments. Urgent Care Clinics are now a permanent part of the Medicare system and the Budget is permanently funding every one of them with $1.8 billion over the next four years and about half a billion dollars every year after.

In aged care, we are investing $3.7 billion to deliver more beds, more packages and better care for older Australians to ensure they get the support they deserve.

The government is investing $1.7 billion to incentivise construction of up to 5,000 aged care beds a year and protect equity of access for those less well off.

The government is also provisioning $1.1 billion for future spending to increase and restructure the Accommodation Supplement and introduce an additional payment for homes with more than 60 per cent low‑means residents.

An additional $565.1 million will improve sector quality, safety and viability. This builds on the Government’s first‑term measures to improve the quality of residential aged care, including by increasing minutes of care delivered to older Australians and strengthening regulatory oversight.

The government is providing $389.8 million to accelerate the release of Support at Home packages and make the program fairer and more affordable.