Australia’s universal healthcare system, Medicare, is no longer fit for purpose because of its complexity, lack of clarity, and lack of continuous monitoring, an independent review has found.
Commissioned by Health Minister Mark Butler in response to reports of widespread rorting and fraud, the review by health economist Pradeep Philip found that Medicare was bleeding between $1.5 billion to $3 billion (US$2 billion) just to non-compliance.
“At present, it is my view that a significant part of the leakage in the Medicare payment system stems from noncompliance errors rather than premeditated fraud,” Philip said.
Reports in media last year alleged that rorting and wastage were eating up $8 billion or a third of its budget every year were not substantiated in Philip’s report….