Short-sighted budget cuts will increase health costs in the long term

The Federal budget’s cuts to health are a false economy which will force more people to go without essential medical care, leading to poorer health outcomes and driving higher costs to the health system in future, Arthritis Australia warns.
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“Hitting patients with increased costs for doctor’s visits, tests and medicines may improve the budget bottom line in the short term, but could prove counterproductive in the longer term, by stopping people going to the doctor or taking medicine when they need to,” said Ainslie Cahill, CEO of Arthritis Australia.  “This is likely to lead to more expensive complications and hospitalisations down the track.”Ms Cahill said those most in need of care would be the hardest hit.

Reviewed and updated May 2014