Making Medicare : The Politics of Universal Health Care in Australia

Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that we largely take for granted. But the road there wasn’t easy. Making Medicare is a comprehensive account of the Australia’s long, tortuous and unconventional path towards universal health care - as it was established, abolished and introduced again - and of the reforms that brought it into being. With its detailed investigation of the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, this book is the most thorough survey of Medicare’s history published to date. But it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care system: new technologies, the ageing population and the rising tide of chronic disease. Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that is often taken for granted. But the road there wasnt easy. Making Medicare is a comprehensive account of Australias long, tortuous, and unconventional path toward universal health careas it was established, abolished, and introduced againand of the reforms that brought it into being. With its detailed investigation of the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, this book is the most thorough survey of Medicares history published to date. But it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care new technologies, the aging population, and the rising tide of chronic disease. "Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that we largely take for granted. But the road there wasn't easy. Making Medicare is the most comprehensive account of Australia's long, tortuous and unconventional path towards universal health care--it was established, abolished and introduced again--and the reforms that brought it into being. This book details the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, but it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing out health care system: new technologies, the ageing population and the rising tide of chronic disease"--Page [4] of cover Since the 1980s, Australians have had a system of universal health care that we largely take for granted. But the road there wasn't easy. Making Medicare is the most comprehensive account of Australia's long, tortuous and unconventional path towards universal health care - it was established, abolished and introduced again - and the reforms that brought it into being. This book details the policy debates that have determined the shape of health care in Australia, but it is not just about the past. The authors offer a timely overview of further reforms needed to address the challenges facing our health care system: new technologies, the ageing population and the rising tide of chronic disease. 1 Health reform efforts to the 1950s -- 15 -- 2 Whitlam and health system reform, 1960-74 -- 36 -- 3 Making Medibank a reality, 1974-75 -- 52 -- 4 Organised medicine versus Medibank -- 64 -- 5 Fraser's health system reforms, 1976-81 -- 78 -- 6 Medibank weighed in the balance, 1976-78 -- 90 -- 7 Why Fraser abolished Medibank -- 102 -- 8 Hawke brings Medicare into being -- 114 -- 9 The politics of Medicare, 1984-96 -- 143 -- 10 John Howard, Medicare's greatest friend? -- 159 -- 11 Current issues, future challenges-- 175.