Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research - Research Publications

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    The impact of COVID-19 on GPs and non-GP specialists in private practice
    Scott, A (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020)
    The healthcare system in Australia has not been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic as initially expected. Nevertheless, there have been significant changes in the use of healthcare from the suspension of non-urgent elective surgery, social distancing restrictions that have discouraged people from leaving home, public fear of contracting or spreading the virus in health facilities, and increased household financial pressure that reduces the affordability of out-ofpocket payments. The aim of this report is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on General Practitioners (GPs) and non-GP specialists working in private practice. It examines the short-term effects on doctors’ working patterns and mental health, how doctors have responded and how they have been supported during the pandemic. New evidence is presented from the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) COVID-19 Short Online Survey (SOS) – MABEL COVID-19 SOS – which was completed by a representative sample of 2,235 GPs and non-GP specialists between 14 and 24 May 2020, with comparison to the MABEL Wave 11 survey conducted in 2018-19.
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    Nursing Home Competition, Prices and Quality: A Review and Some Lessons for Australia
    Yang, O ; Yong, J ; Scott, A (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020-06-01)
    In recent years, with the aim of containing cost pressure and improving efficiency, many countries have begun to introduce market mechanisms into the aged care sector. Under the right conditions, competition can spur providers to compete by cutting costs, offering better prices and higher quality of services. However, in aged care, market failures can be severe. Information about prices and quality may not be readily available and search costs can be high. This study undertakes a scoping review of the literature on competition in the nursing home sector, with an emphasis on research examining how competition affects prices and quality of care. Online databases were used to identify studies in English language published between 1988–2020. A total of 44 publications covering nine countries are included in this review. On the relationship between competition and quality, the literature offers conflicting evidence. Some studies find greater competition leading to higher quality, while others find the opposite effect. Institutional features such as the presence of binding supply restrictions on nursing homes and public release of information on quality appear to be important considerations. On the price effect of competition, most studies find that greater competition tends to result in lower prices, although the effect is small. The literature offers several lessons for Australia, including whether increasing subsidies can result in higher quality and the role of public reporting of quality ratings in fostering competition.
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    Private or Public? The declining growth in the use of private healthcare in Australia
    Bai, T ; Mendez, S ; Scott, A ; Yong, J (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020-10-01)
    The past five years has seen a steady decline in private health insurance (PHI) membership in Australia. With rising premium prices and out-of-pocket costs, private healthcare has become increasingly unaffordable in an era of low wage growth. Given the private health sector relies heavily on PHI funding, this Research Insight explores how the decline in private health membership has affected the private hospital sector in Australia.
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    Who is avoiding necessary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic?
    Zhang, Y ; Liu, J ; Scott, A (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020-06-01)
    Australians experiencing high levels of financial stress and mental distress are not seeking needed health care. This study looks into what policies could help encourage greater use of necessary health care to improve wellbeing and avoid more expensive care later on.
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    Using health care during the pandemic: should I stay or should I go?
    Zhang, Y ; Liu, J ; Scott, A (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020-09-01)
    The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant financial and mental distress for many Australians, which according to results from Taking the Pulse of the Nation in early June, has caused some to avoid visiting a health care professional when needed. As the pandemic continues, are people still delaying seeing a doctor or has their been a resurgence in visits after people delayed their care earlier in the year? In this Research Insight, Professor Yuting Zhang, Dr. Judith Liu, and Professor Anthony Scott examine Australians' use of health care and telehealth, focusing on what changes have occured since early June. To understand how COVID-19 has impacted decision-making around seeing a health care professional, data from Taking the Pulse of the Nation have been used to see who has avoided seeing a doctor, who has sought health care, and who has used telehealth.
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    Who is ditching private health insurance during the pandemic?
    Zhang, Y ; Liu, J ; Scott, A (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, 2020-11-01)
    Following the recent increase in private health insurance (PHI) premiums in October, as well as people's growing financial and mental stresses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Australians may be wondering whether they should drop or downgrade their PHI. In this Research Insight, authors Professor Yuting Zhang, Dr Judith Liu, and Professor Anthony Scott examine how Australians have changed their PHI memberships during the pandemic. Using data from the Melbourne Institute's Taking the Pulse of the Nation survey, they look specifically at who has dropped, downgraded or upgraded their PHI since March 2020.