Reforms to the NDIS will save more than $1bn from the growing cost of the ballooning scheme, according to new official projections that promise to deliver critical structural savings to the federal budget.
In one of his last major changes before he retires, the NDIS Minister will begin a major crackdown on rorting, abuse and the slapping of ‘wedding-tax’ style mark-ups on disability services.
The extra out of pocket costs won’t break the bank for retirees – but the policy game has changed forever.
The design of a new system of services that will provide an alternative to the $40bn-a-year NDIS for Australians with milder disabilities is underway.
NDIS spends more than $15bn a year on disability housing and support for some of Australia’s most profoundly disabled people. A report questions whether that is improving their lives.
Up to 2.5 million health fund members may no longer be able to use their hospital cover amid a deepening crisis over the viability of private hospitals around the nation.
Some self-funded retirees soon face an average $40k extra coming out of their own pocket.
Self-funded retirees will be asked to pay more out of their own savings for their aged care under a deal set to be struck between Labor and the Coalition that will chart a new course for the care of older Australians.
Palliative care patients may have to pay more than $4000 for imported pain-killing tablets as existing morphine products are removed from the market and supplies dwindle.
Supplies of several crucial medicines are running short around the nation, such as liquid morphine products vital to ease the suffering of palliative care patients, including children.
Nearly 300,000 disability workers will demand taxpayers fund an above-inflation pay rise in the wake of $15bn in wage increases given to childcare and aged-care staff.
The nation’s independent aged care overseer is urging the Albanese government to tear up parts of its planned new aged care act so that care becomes a universal entitlement for older Australians, like Medicare.
Wage rises of up to 13.5 per cent for 250,000 aged-care workers will be paid in two tranches by October next year.
New prices for NDIS supports will push some service providers to the brink, advocates warn.
Should we let people in the last stage of life make the most of the time left, instead of facing constant medical treatments? One family’s experience shows what might be gained if we do.
People with severe disabilities will suffer if the scheme is not fixed.
Agency officials have revealed evidence indicating up to 90pc of NDIS plan managers were committing fraud.
Health workers says they will consider quitting if wage increases are delayed.
![Artwork to illustrate story on four young indigenous children who were traumatised by their contact with the NSW Government. [4x3]](https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/b290c1ad59753222ece7f4f2574263bf?width=650)
A foster child in the care of the NSW government had rotten teeth requiring removal and his appendix was infested with worms, but that’s not the worst the little boy endured, a magistrate has found.
When I turned on the TV, the radio or read the newspaper growing up, I never saw or heard anybody like me. But with help of industry, creatives, consumers and the wider public, things are changing. Slowly, but they are.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health/caring/page/3