Prices and subsidies for Australian psychiatric services: A positive economic analysis
File version
Author(s)
F.G. Williams, Ruth
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
The production of specialist psychiatric services in Australia reflects the "mixed" system of public and private production of health services generally. This paper, an exercise in descriptive or positive economics, is concerned only with private production, i.e. those services provided by psychiatrists operating in "private practice" on a fee-for-service basis. It is shown that there is a sharp distinction in Australian institutional arrangements between psychiatric services produced in-hospital and out-of-hospital. The main differences relate to the general coinsurance rates applied, 75 per cent in the former case and 85 per cent in the latter case. In addition out-of-hospital services are subject to a "gap" safety-net provision. Using both algebraic and geometric expositions, the central relationships between gross prices, net prices, schedule fees and subsidies/rebates are illustrated in general, and in various special cases, e.g. where a psychiatrist "direct bills" or "bulk bills" the Health Insurance Commission.
Journal Title
International Journal of Social Economics
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
31
Issue
5-Jun
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Applied Economics
Other Economics