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The Budget - health facts

Tuesday, 13 May, 2008
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Labor has showered public hospitals with cash in the 2008 Federal Budget. (AAP)

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KEY FACTS OF THE BUDGET
BUDGET 2008 WRAP
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Changes to the Medicare levy will slash $300 million from government coffers but help is on the way for pub;ic hospitals and those on waiting lists for elective surgery.

VIDEO: A quick wrap of the budget

VIDEO: Key facts of the budget


New spending

- $10 billion Health and Hospitals Fund for infrastructure including hospitals, medical technology equipment and medical research facilities.

- $780.7 million to slash public dental waiting lists and provide dental check-ups for teenagers.

- $600 million to slash elective surgery waiting lists in public hospitals.

- $490.7 million to pay for dental health check-ups for eligible teenagers.

- $500 million of extra funding for public hospitals.

- $407.6 million for nursing homes, to ensure they can continue to leisure activities for residents.

- $275.2 million to build GP Super Clinics.

Spending cuts

- Redirection of the $351.7 million Health and Medical Investment Fund to the Health and Hospitals Fund.

- $503.7 million of cuts to under-used health programs

- $491.4 million cut from dental treatment funding for chronically ill patients.

- $299.2 million lost revenue from lifting Medicare levy surcharge threshold to $100,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples.

- $169.9 million cut from clinical training for enrolled nurses.

- $105.4 million cut from chemotherapy drugs.

* Figures are over five years.


Source: AAP

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