IMPROVED CARE FOR VETERANS

Expenditure on veterans’ health care has increased from $1.8 billion in 1996 to $4.4 billion in 2004-05, with a further $306.5 million worth of health care initiatives in the Veterans' Affairs Portfolio introduced in the Budget tonight.

The 2004-05 Budget maintains the Government's strong record of meeting the health care needs of the veteran community, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Danna Vale, said.

The Government has allocated $158 million over four years to increase fees for medical specialists.

"Specialists already receive 100 per cent of the Medicare Benefits Schedule fee to treat eligible veterans. This additional payment will ensure that eligible Gold and White Card holders will continue to receive quality specialist care across Australia," Mrs Vale said.

Older members of the veteran community will benefit from the Government’s $2.2 billion response to the Hogan Report, announced tonight.

"Veterans and war widows already enjoy special status in aged care planning. More than $190.7 million of the new funding for aged care services will directly benefit veterans and war widows," Mrs Vale said.

In recognition of the effects of service on their health, the Government also has allocated $1.8 million to effectively abolish daily care fees for former prisoners of war in low-level aged care facilities.

"The Government already pays the daily care fees for former prisoners of war in high-level aged care. This initiative will align the daily care fee arrangements for all former prisoners of war across all levels of aged care and return about $250 a fortnight to eligible former prisoners of war," Mrs Vale said.

In addition, $21.5 million will be provided over four years to continue the Managing Health Care Information programme to improve the purchasing of health services for the veteran community. Continued improvements in the management of contracts with service providers will reduce outlays by an estimated $63.5 million over four years.

Veterans and war widows will also benefit from the promotion of the Pathways Home programme, making the transition from hospital to home easier for elderly patients through the greater use of ‘step-down’ and rehabilitation services. This will reduce hospital outlays by an estimated $2.7 million over four years.

The Minister welcomed the transfer of the Vietnam Veterans' Children Support programme from the Department of Health and Ageing to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"The Government created this programme to help meet the out-of-pocket expenses of Vietnam veterans’ children with spina bifida manifesta, cleft lip/palate, adrenal gland cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia," Mrs Vale said.

"I’m pleased that this programme is being transferred to my Department as this will provide ease of access for Vietnam veterans and their families to important services.

"Expanding and sustaining free, comprehensive health care for our veterans has been a priority for this Government during the past eight years. Tonight’s Budget is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to meeting the changing health care needs of our veteran and war widow community."

Media contact: Claire Bannon 02 6277 7820 or 0423 781 896