Budget threatens health of Aussie kids
18 May 2015
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Speech Pathology Australia have expressed disappointment in the Federal Budget decision that from 1 November 2015 Medicare benefits will no longer be paid for Healthy Kids Checks.
The Healthy Kids Check (HKC) aims to improve health outcomes for Australian children with a health check conducted between the ages of three and five to detect any hearing, speech, language or behavioural issues and facilitate early intervention strategies before children start school. Children between three and five are currently eligible for a specific patient rebate aimed at supporting this important health check.
A study into the HKC initiative published in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2014, found the most common problem detected in children presenting for the check related to speech and language.
Family GPs are vital in ensuring that young children with language problems are identified early and, as appropriate, referred to speech pathologists. Early intervention can help a child get ‘back on track’ before they start school.
“When the early detection of speech difficulties in children is so critical, the effective abolition of the Healthy Kids Check makes no sense at all,” said Professor Deborah Theodoros, National President of Speech Pathology Australia.
“The Health Minister has only recently announced there is to be a review of the Medicare Benefits Scheme. Now even before this review has commenced this important health check is to be effectively killed off.”
Speech Pathology Australia recognises that parents trust their GPs to provide advice and guidance if their child isn’t speaking correctly.
RACGP President Dr Frank R Jones said GPs were ideally placed to monitor the overall health of children and take into account any family health conditions and observable changes in normal progression of development.
“Restricting this service to state based programs will limit access and further fragment care by forcing families to seek care outside their regular general practice," Dr Jones said.
“It is disappointing the Federal Government made this decision without discussion or consultation with the profession because we could have provided advice on how to improve the Healthy Kids Check,” Dr Jones said.