❓ Hon Alison Xamon questions the Minister for Health regarding efforts to allow prisoners access to Medicare. The Minister confirms collaboration with the Minister for Corrective Services and other states to improve Medicare access for prisoners.
AnsweredQoN 884Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONERS —
MEDICARE ACCESS
884. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Has the
minister undertaken any work with his federal and state counterparts towards
allowing prisoners to access Medicare?
(2) If no to (1),
why not?
(3) If yes to (1)
—
(a) what work has
been undertaken;
(b) is access to
Medicare for prisoners supported by other states; and
(c) does the
Minister expect a positive outcome from this work?
(4) If yes to
(3)(c), when?
(5) If no to
(3)(c), why not?
MEDICARE ACCESS
884. Hon ALISON XAMON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
(1) Has the
minister undertaken any work with his federal and state counterparts towards
allowing prisoners to access Medicare?
(2) If no to (1),
why not?
(3) If yes to (1)
—
(a) what work has
been undertaken;
(b) is access to
Medicare for prisoners supported by other states; and
(c) does the
Minister expect a positive outcome from this work?
(4) If yes to
(3)(c), when?
(5) If no to
(3)(c), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes, noting
that prison health services are under the governance of the Department of
Justice and the Corrective Services Ministers' Conference has taken the
lead nationally on advocating for improved Medicare access for prisoners. The
Corrective Services Administrators' Council, comprising the heads of
corrective services agencies, has established a national Medicare Working
Group. In April 2018, the Minister for Corrective Services approached the
Minister for Health to seek a Department of Health representative to
participate in the working group. In May 2018, the Minister for Health approved
the nomination of Dr James Williamson, assistant director general of the
clinical excellence division in the Department of Health, to participate in the
working group. The working group last met on 26 June 2018.
(2) Not
applicable.
(3) (a) See the
answer to part (1).
(b) Other states
and territories have historically supported improved Medicare access for
prisoners.
(c) Advice
received by the minister from the Minister for Corrective Services is that he
recently raised the matter at the Corrective Services Ministers'
Conference for the commonwealth and expressed
his deep dissatisfaction with the current situation. The Minister for
Corrective Services will continue to pursue these changes along with
other state and territory corrective services ministers.
(4) The Minister
for Health will continue to collaborate with the Minister for Corrective
Services to advocate for improved Medicare access for prisoners.
(5) Not applicable.
some notice of the question.
(1) Yes, noting
that prison health services are under the governance of the Department of
Justice and the Corrective Services Ministers' Conference has taken the
lead nationally on advocating for improved Medicare access for prisoners. The
Corrective Services Administrators' Council, comprising the heads of
corrective services agencies, has established a national Medicare Working
Group. In April 2018, the Minister for Corrective Services approached the
Minister for Health to seek a Department of Health representative to
participate in the working group. In May 2018, the Minister for Health approved
the nomination of Dr James Williamson, assistant director general of the
clinical excellence division in the Department of Health, to participate in the
working group. The working group last met on 26 June 2018.
(2) Not
applicable.
(3) (a) See the
answer to part (1).
(b) Other states
and territories have historically supported improved Medicare access for
prisoners.
(c) Advice
received by the minister from the Minister for Corrective Services is that he
recently raised the matter at the Corrective Services Ministers'
Conference for the commonwealth and expressed
his deep dissatisfaction with the current situation. The Minister for
Corrective Services will continue to pursue these changes along with
other state and territory corrective services ministers.
(4) The Minister
for Health will continue to collaborate with the Minister for Corrective
Services to advocate for improved Medicare access for prisoners.
(5) Not applicable.
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