{"id":13065,"date":"2021-09-20T18:47:18","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T18:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=13065"},"modified":"2021-09-20T18:47:18","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T18:47:18","slug":"free-and-unlimited-mental-health-in-medicare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2021\/09\/20\/free-and-unlimited-mental-health-in-medicare\/","title":{"rendered":"Free and unlimited mental health in Medicare"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Greens have today announced that in balance of power after the next election, they will push to
\ntackle the growing mental health crisis in Australia by making mental healthcare free and unlimited for
\neveryone who needs it as part of Medicare.
\nThe plan, which will create universal, unlimited and available mental healthcare through Medicare, will
\nbe funded by taxing billionaires and big corporations making big profits.
\nOur plan will ensure everyone can access mental healthcare, when they need it, not when they can
\nafford it.
\nOn current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome of the coming election. The
\nGreens have already announced their \u2018tycoon tax\u2019 plan that will be pushed in \u2018balance of power\u2019
\nnegotiations to help raise revenue, but the free mental health care plan is the first key expenditure
\npolicy announced by the party.
\nThis plan is a priority for the party and will be a central election campaign focus for the Greens,
\nespecially amongst young people, and a key element of post-election balance of power negotiations.
\nGreens Health Spokesperson, Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John said:<\/strong>
\n\u201cMental health services in Australia are out of reach for too many people. Hundreds of thousands of
\npeople are being left behind because they can\u2019t get the help they need. Two of the problems people are banging up against are the cost of services, and the limit on number of appointments.
\n\u201cOver half of individual psychological therapy sessions had an average gap payment of $68, whilst two thirds of psychiatrist consultations had an average gap of payment of $93 (source<\/a>).
\n\u201cThe lockdowns and pandemic have affected everyone\u2019s mental health. Everyone\u2019s stressed, worried,
\nand anxious about the future. But the urgent need for universal mental health services, funded by big
\ncorporations making big profits, was urgent before the pandemic.
\n\u201cWe can tackle this crisis. By taxing the billionaires and big corporations we can make sure everyone
\ncan afford to access mental health services for as long as they need them.
\n\u201cWhen everyone can access free mental health support, our whole community will benefit through an
\nimproved quality of life, improved relationships and better performance while studying or working.\u201d
\nGreens Leader Adam Bandt said:<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe next election will be closer than people think. Scott Morrison is only 828 votes away from losing
\nmajority government and on current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
\n\u201cIn balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to make
\nbillionaire corporations pay their fair share of tax so we can get free and unlimited mental health care
\ninto Medicare.
\n\u201cLast time The Greens were in balance of power we got free dental for kids into Medicare, and this
\ntime we will fight to get people the mental health care they deserve. In balance of power, the Greens
\nwill push to get dental and mental health fully into Medicare.\u201d
\nHow the Greens\u2019 plan will work<\/strong>
\nExpand the Better Access Initiative to unlimited psychology or psychiatric therapy sessions
\nand raise their Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates for patients with a diagnosed
\nmental illness. The rebates would be offered at two levels to give mental health care providers
\na real avenue to providing no-gap mental health care.
\nDetails of amendments to the Medicare rebate:<\/strong><\/p>\n