❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the cost, operation, and future of the free and subsidised ambulance cover schemes for aged pensioners and self-funded retirees in Western Australia. The response provides detailed financial information and clarifies eligibility criteria.
AnsweredQoN 7885Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the free ambulance cover for all aged pensioners which was introduced by the State Government in 2005, and ask:
(a) what is the current cost to the State Government of providing free ambulance cover to all aged pensioners in Western Australia;
(b) how many aged pensioners in Western Australia currently have access to free cover under this scheme;
(c) please provide details on how funding for the scheme operates, in particular:
(i) does the Government pay for ambulance-only cover for all aged pensioners directly to organisations such as HBF or St John's Country Ambulance Cover; or
(ii) does the Government retrospectively pick up the cost of invoices for actual ambulance services used?
(d) does the Government intend to continue this scheme and, if so, what is the projected cost of the scheme over the next four years;
(e) are self-funded retirees over 65 who are not aged pensioners still eligible for subsidised ambulance cover (50 per cent) and, if so, how does this work, in particular:
(i) is the Government paying for 50 per cent of the insurance costs of ambulance-only cover for self-funded retirees; or
(ii) does it pay 50 per cent of the invoiced bills for ambulance services used by self-funded retirees; and
(f) are all non-urgent medical attendances by ambulances to aged pensioners billed at the full rate?
(a) what is the current cost to the State Government of providing free ambulance cover to all aged pensioners in Western Australia;
(b) how many aged pensioners in Western Australia currently have access to free cover under this scheme;
(c) please provide details on how funding for the scheme operates, in particular:
(i) does the Government pay for ambulance-only cover for all aged pensioners directly to organisations such as HBF or St John's Country Ambulance Cover; or
(ii) does the Government retrospectively pick up the cost of invoices for actual ambulance services used?
(d) does the Government intend to continue this scheme and, if so, what is the projected cost of the scheme over the next four years;
(e) are self-funded retirees over 65 who are not aged pensioners still eligible for subsidised ambulance cover (50 per cent) and, if so, how does this work, in particular:
(i) is the Government paying for 50 per cent of the insurance costs of ambulance-only cover for self-funded retirees; or
(ii) does it pay 50 per cent of the invoiced bills for ambulance services used by self-funded retirees; and
(f) are all non-urgent medical attendances by ambulances to aged pensioners billed at the full rate?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
42 days
(a) The cost was as follows:
2010/11 - $20,248,580
July 2011 to February 2012 - $15,524,262
(b) All Western Australian Residents over the age of 65, who are in receipt of a full pension.
The total number of cases the Department has funded are as follows:
2010/11 - 67,701
July 2011 to February 2012 - 48,436
The number of individuals over the age of 65 who have been transported is as follows:
2010/11 - 9,944
July 2011 to February 2012 - 7,361
A funded case is defined as each time an ambulance is used to transport an individual over the age or 65. The number of individuals is the number of individual people that have used an ambulance. For example John Smith (is the individual) has used an ambulance three times (the number of cases funded).
(c) The government does not pay HBF or any other insurance organisation. It pays St John Ambulance direct for the number of transports undertaken by Western Australian Residents over the age of 65. The charge to the Department of Health is 50% of St John Ambulance's standard fee. The current charges for 2011/12 are:
- Emergency or Urgent - $822 (Department of Health pay $411)
- Non Urgent - $440 (Department of Health pay $220)
- Booked or Events - $404 (Department of Health pay $202)
(d) Yes. The projected costs are:
2011/12 - $23m
2012/13 - $27m
2013/14 - $32m
2014/15 - $37m
(e) Yes.
(i) No
(ii) Yes - The Department of Health pays 50% of St John Ambulance fees for all Western Australian Residents over the age of 65, irrespective of pension status. St John Ambulance access Centrelink Data on each individual to assess their Aged Pension Status and their eligibility. St John Ambulance issue an invoice to the self funded retiree for the remainder of the cost.
(f) No, as outlined above in response (c), the fees charged vary between the various urgency levels. They are always at a 50% discount on St John Ambulance's standard fees.
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2010/11 - $20,248,580
July 2011 to February 2012 - $15,524,262
(b) All Western Australian Residents over the age of 65, who are in receipt of a full pension.
The total number of cases the Department has funded are as follows:
2010/11 - 67,701
July 2011 to February 2012 - 48,436
The number of individuals over the age of 65 who have been transported is as follows:
2010/11 - 9,944
July 2011 to February 2012 - 7,361
A funded case is defined as each time an ambulance is used to transport an individual over the age or 65. The number of individuals is the number of individual people that have used an ambulance. For example John Smith (is the individual) has used an ambulance three times (the number of cases funded).
(c) The government does not pay HBF or any other insurance organisation. It pays St John Ambulance direct for the number of transports undertaken by Western Australian Residents over the age of 65. The charge to the Department of Health is 50% of St John Ambulance's standard fee. The current charges for 2011/12 are:
- Emergency or Urgent - $822 (Department of Health pay $411)
- Non Urgent - $440 (Department of Health pay $220)
- Booked or Events - $404 (Department of Health pay $202)
(d) Yes. The projected costs are:
2011/12 - $23m
2012/13 - $27m
2013/14 - $32m
2014/15 - $37m
(e) Yes.
(i) No
(ii) Yes - The Department of Health pays 50% of St John Ambulance fees for all Western Australian Residents over the age of 65, irrespective of pension status. St John Ambulance access Centrelink Data on each individual to assess their Aged Pension Status and their eligibility. St John Ambulance issue an invoice to the self funded retiree for the remainder of the cost.
(f) No, as outlined above in response (c), the fees charged vary between the various urgency levels. They are always at a 50% discount on St John Ambulance's standard fees.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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