Impact and Scope of the New Disability Insurance Scheme on the Health

Question: Consider the impact and scope of the new Disability Insurance Scheme on the health care system. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages that present and who do these advantages/disadvantages affect? Answer: Impacts The complete details of the new Disability Insurance Scheme are yet to be resolved. The criteria for eligibility for this scheme are to be understood by the service providers. Some anomalies might arise such as an individual with non-traumatic brain damage might be eligible but an individual with traumatic brain damage is not. Coordination between the health sector and the non-health sectors remains a major issue. Only people suffering from permanent impairment are eligible for the scheme whereas the individuals with fluctuating illnesses are not taken under this scheme. In case of mental health, only the individuals who suffer from permanently impaired mental health who are placed in tier 3 are eligible (Williams Smith, 2014). Scope Once the scheme becomes fully functional, it intends to include the PHaMs (Personal helpers and Mentors programs) along with the Support for Day to Day program. It has also been informed by the NDIA that the scope for NDIS is to be extended to the Mental Health Care Respite Program (Cebulla Zhu, 2015). Advantages and disadvantages The advantages and disadvantages of all the models for this scheme have been described below: Trust Under this model, the total budget for the service is set by the government. The benefit bestowed by this model is that the public service professionals who work in a complex environment possibly can implement their knowledge efficiently and effectively. A limitation of this system is that the incentives of the providers of service do not cover the best interests of the system or the patients. The allocation of resources is inefficient (Ergas, 2013). Targets and performance management This model is not reliant on the decency of the professionals, unlike the trust model. The central authority is liable for making decisions. But the disadvantage that comes along with this is that this central authority is incapable of mitigating the factors present in local level. Voice Collective voice mechanisms can convey the interests and needs of the people at local level but not everyone in the community is capable of hearing the voices of the service providers. Choice and competition This allows providers to be more responsive towards the needs of the consumers. As a result, the services are of greater quality. Furthermore, the provision of services is more equitable since people who have the opportunity to demand services preferable to them are reduced. The key disadvantage is that a large number of consumers is necessary to make the market well-functioned (Williams Smith, 2014). References Cebulla, A. Zhu, R. (2015). Disability, and social and economic inclusion: who is in and out of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme?.Scandinavian Journal Of Disability Research, 1-13. Ergas, H. (2013). National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding: The Case for Hypothecation.Australian Economic Review,46(3), 338-344. Williams, T. Smith, G. (2014). Can the National Disability Insurance Scheme work for mental health?.Australian New Zealand Journal Of Psychiatry,48(5), 391-394.