Welcome to the AFDO newsletter.
In addition to contributing to shadow reporting efforts for the UN Convention, AFDO has also developed a scoping paper to examine a way forward for human rights monitoring projects. While there is a need for regular shadow reporting against the Convention to be part of disability rights monitoring, there is also a need to look at Australia-specific disability rights issues which are not addressed in the Convention, such as the funding mechanisms for disability services and the difficulties imposed by a federated system of government.
The scoping paper aims to promote discussion within AFDO about the work it should be doing in these areas into the future. In particular, it recommends steps for AFDO to take to begin human rights monitoring, and specific areas of government lobbying work. AFDO has already begun to promote the paper to relevant politicians, and to lobby for capacity building within disabled persons organizations to be a government priority. The AFDO Board and members have already begun initial discussions of the projects suggested in the scoping paper. Further work will be undertaken on the basis of these discussions throughout 2010.
By Sue Salthouse, Former AFDO External Representative to Medicare's Consumer Consultation Group.
Background
At present, more than 90 percent of medical practices use an electronic claiming system to lodge their claims for services which they give to patients.
The electronic systems are therefore in place at a large number of practices to enable them to process the PATIENT’s Medicare Claim at the same time as you pay the doctor at his/her surgery. Thus the Medicare Rebate can be credited direct to YOUR BANK ACCOUNT at the same time.
However, only 18.5 per cent of patient claims are being lodged with Medicare Australia electronically from the doctors’ surgeries.
Medicare Australia would like to increase this percentage, and believes it is to the advantage of many patients to do so.
All the medical practice has to do is install the secure software to enable on-the-spot claiming.
All the patient has to do is register their bank account details with Medicare Australia. You will then be able to access this service from whichever medical practice you are at IF it has SWITCHED ON the Patient Claiming software.
You can ask at the reception desk if the medical practice you are attending for any procedure has already ‘switched over’ to be able to offer electronic claiming to their patients. Electronic Claiming may be possible from the surgeries of GPs, Specialists, and Allied Health Professionals.
Don’t worry if you prefer to send in a paper-based claim by post, OR if you prefer to visit a Medicare Shopfront to put in your claim and get cash (don’t forget there is a $150 per cash payment maximum trial underway at the moment). These two claim options will not change.
For further information contact:
For more information contact Kirstin Gosciniak at Medicare Australia on
02 6124 7056 or email kirstin.gosciniak@medicareaustralia.gov.au
This information was passed along to AFDO by Sue Salthouse, former AFDO External Representative to the Medicare Consumer Consultation Group.
A teenager is eligible for the Medicare Teen Dental plan if they are:
• aged 12–17 years:
o receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB (A)), ABSTUDY, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, Special Benefit, Youth Allowance; or
o whose family/carer/guardian receives Family Tax Benefit Part A (FTB(A)), or Parenting Payment or the Double Orphan Pension for the teenager; or
o whose partner receives FTB-A or Parenting Payment; or
o 16 or older and receiving financial assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme (MRCAETS) from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• eligible for Medicare.
The plan entitles a teenager to one preventative dental check each calendar year.
The first 2010 Member’s Meeting was held on 4th and 5th of February in Brisbane. Members heard presentations from Centrelink, Aboriginal Disability Network, agencies working internationally and FaHCSIA. Discussions also revolved around AFDO's structure and future, and the work being undertaken on human rights monitoring and a Disability Inclusion Allowance within AFDO.
The next member's meeting will be held on March 11th 2010 in Melbourne, with members also attending AFDO's Strategic Planning Day and a FaHCSIA consultation on the review of the National Secretariat Program. The member's meeting will focus on the National Secretariat Program review and the upcoming Federal election.
Over the past six months AFDO has continued to be involved in the push for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) through the National Disability and Carers Alliance, which comprises AFDO, Carers Australia and National Disability Services.
In late November 2009, the Alliance had its first taste of success with the Rudd government announcing a Productivity Commission Inquiry into a Lifelong Care and Support Scheme. The Inquiry will begin early in 2010 and will report its findings by July 2011. You can find out more about the inquiry and register for information updates by clicking here.
While AFDO welcomes the inquiry, we would like to see:
1. More than one person with disability represented on the steering committee for the inquiry, and
2. Discussion of ways to meet the needs of all people with disability, not just those with severe or profound disability. A system based on severity of disability will only encourage people with ‘less severe’ disability to exaggerate their condition in order to get what they genuinely need. This would be both demeaning, because it would encourage people with disability to speak negatively about their needs, and counterproductive, because a number of those meant to be excluded would get access to the system anyway.
AFDO is especially keen to see the Inquiry recommend a Disability Inclusion Allowance which would give people with disability the choice of direct control over funding for their services. To achieve this goal, AFDO has developed a Disability Inclusion Allowance campaign plan to be implemented over the next two years. We will make more information available through the newsletter and on the AFDO website as the campaign begins unfolding during 2010.
During the past five months, AFDO has made several policy submissions, including:
1. Response to the Media Access Review Report tabled by government. This submission outlined the importance of continued pressure on industry through clear legislation for media access;
2. Response to the Electoral Reform Green Paper, outlining the need for all people with disability to have the right to vote, and for voting processes to be accessible;
3. Submission to the Inquiry on the Harmonisation of Occupational Health and Safety Laws, which talked about the need for people with disability to be able to hire and work with personal care attendants without being liable for occupational health and safety risks;
4. Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) strategic plan consultation submission, reiterating the need for telecommunications issues faced by people with disability to be a priority;
5. FaHCSIA consultation regarding the accessibility of PDF’s for website use, noting that many different formats have different accessibility advantages and disadvantages for different people with disability. It is important to be aware of the pros and cons of each, rather than making blanket decisions.
We have also identified a list of policy areas where AFDO needs to have a stated position. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, AFDO has representatives on a number of committees who are asked to state AFDO’s position on policies. While our policy documents will not go into great detail, they will give our representatives some guidance about the principles we support. Secondly, policy position papers can be used to educate governments and the general public about the work of AFDO.
At present, policies regarding public transport and health have been drafted. AFDO would like to thank the two policy volunteers who are assisting with work on these policies, Margo Hodge and Riki Domogalski.
In November Lesley and Leah met with both Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, and staff from the Social Inclusion Unit within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. At both meetings they raised several issues:
1. There is a lack of people with lived experience of disability on the Social Inclusion Board. The Board should include at least one person with disability so that it can consider disability issues properly.
Senator Stephens advised that she would need to raise this issue with Julia Gillard, who oversees the social inclusion portfolio.
2. The initiatives being undertaken as a part of the social inclusion priority areas do not seem to specifically address disability issues. Is this the case, and if so, why?
The Social Inclusion Unit wasn’t able to answer this question immediately. In January 2010 the Federal Government released 'A Stronger, Fairer Australia: A New Social Inclusion Strategy'. One of the six priorities documented in the strategy is 'improving outcomes for people living with disability or mental illness and their carers'. A copy of this strategy can be found by clicking here.
3. In November, the only report available measuring Australia's progress in social inclusion was the Social Inclusion Compendium, which only included two measures related to disability. In addition, the Compendium was heavily focused on measuring the way people are included through their employment and health. This is not appropriate for people with disability.
Along with the release of the new strategy the government also relased a new social inclusion report, called "How is Australia Faring?" This report contains some different measures of disability. A copy can be found by clicking here
As of July 1st 2009, the disability focused telecommunications lobby group TEDICORE, which was auspiced by AFDO, has been folded into a new consumer lobby group called the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). ACCAN has moved swiftly to establish a disability agenda, making accessibility and affordability a key priority in its strategic plan.
To inform this work, ACCAN has set up a Standing Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (SACDI). Appointed SACDI representatives include AFDO and some of its member organizations, including Brain Injury Australia, National Ethnic Disability Alliance and Deafness Forum. SACDI held its first meeting in early November, with the main focus on promoting telecommunications as a priority in the UN CRPD and the National Disability Strategy. The next meeting of SACDI will be held in Sydney on 17th March 2010.
AFDO members who have telecommunications related issues to raise with SACDI should contact AFDO's representative, Leah Hobson. Leah can be reached at the AFDO office or by emailing leah.hobson@afdo.org.au.
Now that the Australian government has ratified the UN CRPD, it has to report to the UN about its progress towards making sure Australia meets its obligations under the CRPD. Australia's government report is due in August 2010. Public consultations on the content of this report are expected to be held in the first half of this year.
The UN relies heavily on one or more ‘shadow reports’ from community groups to assess whether the government has painted an accurate picture and to make recommendations for improvements.
Over the past six months AFDO has been involved in a significant, cross sector shadow reporting project. AFDO’s Project Officer, David Webb, has sat on the steering committee for the project, which has conducted consultations around Australia as well as taking submissions via the web.
People with disability and others who are interested are able to give their feedback to the shadow report project via the Disability Rights website.