Queensland Well being has dedicated to reviewing medical prices billed to sexual assault victims who're ineligible for Medicare by the tip of the 12 months, following reviews one sufferer was charged $800 for pathology exams.
It comes after reviews by Guardian Australia prompted Queensland Well being to pledge to not cost sexual assault victims with out entry to Medicare for rape kits.
The appearing director common of Queensland Well being, Shaun Drummond, confirmed in price range estimates on Friday the organisation would assessment different medical prices related to sexual assault – reminiscent of therapy for accidents, MRIs and testing for STIs – by the tip of the 12 months.
These prices can be reviewed throughout “all different hospitals and well being providers”, he mentioned.
Guardian Australia understands it's Queensland Well being’s intention the prices will probably be eliminated by the tip of 2022.
Requested by Greens South Brisbane MP, Amy MacMahon, concerning the budgetary affect of the transfer, Drummond mentioned it was minimal within the scheme of the state’s $23bn well being price range.
“It has a small implication for us that's effectively manageable throughout the allocation for our hospital and well being providers,” he mentioned.
The ultimate report by the ladies’s security and justice taskforce mentioned the observe of charging victims who aren’t coated by Medicare for forensic examinations and exams had “distressed” vacationers, worldwide college students, migrants and refugees.
The taskforce famous some victims had been unable to pay for examinations, prompting invoices to be despatched to a household handle abroad which resulted in “gross” breaches of privateness, in addition to emotions of worry and disgrace.
MacMahon requested Queensland’s well being minister, Yvette D’Ath, about abortion entry amid reviews that girls are nonetheless dealing with limitations accessing termination providers almost 4 years after decriminalisation.
Wait instances for providers in south-east Queensland have blown out following the closure of clinics operated by non-for-profit healthcare service Marie Stopes in Southport, Townsville and Rockhampton final 12 months.
D’Ath mentioned there have been nonetheless points with accessibility, with nearly all of Queensland girls having to journey to Brisbane for surgical terminations.
“We've got been working actually laborious as to how we fill these gaps,” D’Ath mentioned.
D’Ath mentioned the federal government was taking a look at reviewing well being and hospital providers to look at how accessibility for termination providers may be improved.
“I do wish to see extra providers supplied, extra accessibility, as a result of we all know timing is important round these points,” she mentioned.
“There’s quite a lot of complicated elements round this … It’s an ongoing problem.”
Info and help for anybody affected by rape or sexual abuse points is offered from the next organisations. In Australia, help is offered at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Within the UK, Rape Disaster affords help on 0808 802 9999. Within the US, Rainn affords help on 800-656-4673. Different worldwide helplines may be discovered at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
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