Part 1 Medicare principles

| The Commonwealth and the States are committed to the following principles in the provision of public hospital services: | | Explanatory Note: | The Principles focus on the provision of public hospital services to eligible persons, but operate in an environment where eligible persons have the right to choose private health care in public and private hospitals supported by private health insurance. | | Choices of services | | Principle 1: | Eligible persons must be given the choice to receive public hospital services free of charge as public patients | | Explanatory Note 1: | Hospital services include in-patient, out-patient, emergency services (including primary care where appropriate) and day patient services consistent with currently acceptable medical and health service standards. | | Explanatory Note 2: | At the time of admission to a hospital, or as soon as practicable after that, an eligible person will be required to elect or confirm whether he or she wishes to be treated as a public or private patient. | | Universality of services | | Principle 2: | Access to public hospital services is to be on the basis of clinical need | | Explanatory Note 1: | None of the following factors are to be a determinant of an eligible person's priority for receiving hospital services: | | | - whether or not an eligible person has health insurance; | | | - an eligible person's financial status or place of residence; | | | - whether or not an eligible person intends to elect, or elects, to be treated as a public or private patient. | | Explanatory Note 2: | This principle applies equally to waiting times for elective surgery. | | Equity in service provision | | Principle 3: | To the maximum practicable extent, a State will ensure the provision of public hospital services equitably to all eligible persons, regardless of their geographical location | | Explanatory Note 1: | This principle does not require a local hospital to be equipped to provide eligible persons with every hospital service they may need. | | Explanatory Note 2: | In rural and remote areas, a State should ensure provision of reasonable public access to a basic range of hospital services which are in accord with clinical practices. |