The increased cash flow coincides with the launch of a new $1.5-billion drug plan to offer universal coverage for contraceptive and diabetes medications.
health
Pharmacare deal would cover birth control, diabetes meds: sources
The Liberals and NDP have agreed to cover birth control through a single-payer program as part of the pharmacare deal and are also in talks to include diabetes drugs.
B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments
Health Minister Adrian Dix says in a news release that full coverage of the medications will be available to all B.C. residents with an active medical services plan.
The percentage of Americans skipping medical care because of cost is back at pre-Obamacare levels
More Americans than ever before had health insurance coverage in 2022, thanks to Medicaid’s continuous enrollment, a feature of the covid emergency. And yet at the same time, 28% of people in the US chose to skip medical care due to costs—the highest percentage since Obamacare, or Affordable Care Act, became…
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A Texas ruling threatens to take away several free preventive health services for Americans
One of the most important changes Americans experienced with the onset of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was that a large suite of preventive services and treatments—from contraceptives to heart monitoring to mammograms—had to be covered in full by insurance policies. But a new ruling could change that.
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‘Fill-the-gaps’ programs can’t replace Liberal promise of pharmacare, advocates say
As pressure builds on the Liberals to implement pharmacare, questions are being raised about whether Ottawa’s model will materialize as a truly universal, single-payer program.
Ottawa pledging $2B for pandemic surgery delays, warn universal health care ‘at risk’
Duclos said delays in surgeries, diagnostics and treatments existed before the pandemic but that after five successive waves of COVID-19, provincial health systems are struggling.
Texans are bearing the cost of keeping the working class out of the statehouse
In March, members of the Texas House of Representatives presented a proposal to expand Medicaid benefits. The bill, signed by 67 Democrats and nine Republicans, had enough votes to pass. It would have set Texas on the path to join the majority of US states (38 so far) that have expanded their populations’ eligibility for Medicaid—which provides healthcare insurance to low-income groups—since it became a possibility under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
In Texas, Medicaid is ...
Budget 2021 reaction: splash of cash but universities and renewables left in the cold – Australia politics live updates
Coalition budget delivers $30bn in tax breaks and money for fossil fuel projects but no measures to help struggling universities or clean energy projects. Follow all the latest news and reaction to the 2021 federal budget as it happens
- The complete 2021 Australian budget: choose what matters to you
- ‘Team Australia’ is bouncing back, Josh Frydenberg declares
- Explore all of our 2021 Australia federal budget coverage
And along with the fact the international border is expected to remain closed for another year at least (a whole other year – which means stranded Australians have up to a year to wait to come home) there is also the issue of wage growth which doesn’t seem to be getting the attention it should.
For me these are the most important number out of the budget - slower wages growth than ever before, and nothing predicted over 2.5% till 2025.
Remember the RBA says wages need to grow above 3% in order to get interest rates to rise https://t.co/6HBeBZMKqM pic.twitter.com/qLZ7es4Dw4
There was nothing in the budget (again) for dental.
It’s kind of amazing how little fuss there is about an entire section of health being excised from universal health care. If you have ever needed to get to a dentist and can’t afford one, so have had to wait for a publicly funded position, you know just how detrimental to your health and life lack of access to good dental care is. I grew up with the school dental van visits as my only access to dental care and have had to rely on dental vouchers more than once.
More than six out of 10 over-75s in Australia suffer from gum disease, while more than one in three Australians aged 75 and over have complete tooth loss,” she said.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard distressing evidence of older patients going without basic dental care such as toothbrushing and denture cleaning.
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Huge jump in Australians seeking mental health help during pandemic
In just one month three helplines were contacted 140,000 times, and 7.2m Medicare-subsidised services were delivered over six months
In just four weeks during the pandemic, Australians contacted three mental health helplines more than 140,000 times, and 7.2m Medicare-subsidised mental health services were delivered in just over six months.
On Thursday the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare published a series of reports examining the effect of Covid-19 on the health system, with data showing a substantial increase in mental health-related services since 20 March when pandemic restrictions were first introduced.
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