Health Care Spending: Changes in the Perceptions of the Australian Public.
BACKGROUND
Increasing demand for services and rising health care costs create pressures within the Australian health care system and result in higher health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for consumers.


OBJECTIVE
To measure changes in consumer views on the quality of the Australian health care system, contributors to rising costs and attitudes towards managing these costs.


METHODS
Two computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted in 2006 (533 respondents) and 2015 (1318 respondents) and results compared.


RESULTS
More respondents in 2015 rated the Australian health care system 'very adequate' than in 2006 (22.3% vs 8.3%; Odds Ratio OR 3.2, 99% CI 2.1, 5.1) with fewer 'concerned' or 'fairly concerned' about the health care costs (69.0% vs 85.7%; OR 0.37, 99% CI 0.25, 0.53). The 2015 respondents were more likely to identify new treatments for cancer (77% vs 65.7%; OR 1.75, 99% CI 1.30, 2.35) and community expectations for access to the latest technologies (73.8% vs 67%; OR 1.39, 99% CI 1.04, 1.86) as contributors to rising health care costs. While more 2015 respondents agreed that patients should pay a greater part of the health care costs, this remained a minority view (37.9% vs 31.7%; OR 1.32, 99% CI 0.99, 1.76). They were less likely to agree that doctors should offer medical treatments regardless of the cost and chance of benefit (63.6% vs 82.9%; OR 0.36, 99% CI 0.25, 0.50).


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction with the Australian health care system has increased over time. Consumers recognise the cost pressures and have lower expectations that all services should be provided regardless of their costs and potential benefit. Public consultation on the allocation of health care resources and involvement in health care decision-making remains important. There should be community consultation about the principles and values that should guide resource allocation decisions.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Jane
J
Robertson
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
David A
DA
Newby
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Emily J
EJ
Walkom
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult