Health costs and policy in an ageing Australia
Chairman's speech
Commission Chairman Gary Banks delivered the 2008 Health Policy Oration at the Australian National University (ANU) on 26 June 2008.
Download the speech
- Contents
Introduction
The health 'market'
A creature of government
Technological change is a key driver of health costs
Understanding technology's cost impacts
The outlook for technology
Population ageing will compound future cost increases
Impacts of ageing
Health costs rise (sharply) with age
Counter-arguments don't hold up
The impacts of ageing could be understated
Projected health expenditure
Identifying the ageing-related component
Some policy implications
Three broad options for governments
Attaining the ideal: a 'market' analogy
Demand-side policies
A bigger role for 'pricing'?
Information and consumer 'empowerment'
Preventive action
Regulatory options
Supply-side policies
Incentives and productivity
Better decision-making processes
Health workforce regulation and remuneration
System-wide issues
References