Rachel David

@ShaunCGath The funds did not ask for or propose the GSBB system that was introduced by the previous govt. We did our best to make it work, but we did warn about unintended consequences like hyperinflation in Gold at the time.

Peering through the commentary from usual suspects (and the stats available 365/365 on privatehealth.gov.au) one salient point emerges: we need to fix the #GSBB system. For a start, let's put "Basic" cover under the scope. The dubiousness is apparent to all. Solutions less so.

@SatPaper PHI premiums are the most scrutinised prices of any sector with government approval required to increase them. They go up in proportion to health sector inflation

Since 2008, private health insurance premiums have increased by more than 100 per cent. Over the same period average wages have gone up around 60 per cent and indexation of MBS payments have increased by less than 20 per cent. satpa.pe/IfGSRj7

Out of pocket costs are putting specialist medical care out of reach of pensioners & many other Australians. We need a healthcare system where people can access the care they need, not just what they can afford. abc.net.au/news/2025-09-2…

@deemadigan Magnificent ‘fit! Good luck

Logie ready

@normanswan @ABCTV @4corners This is terrifying and it’s imperative we discover the root cause.

Be sure to watch tonight’s Four Corners at half past 8 ⁦@ABCTV⁩ ⁦@4corners⁩ or on ABC iview abc.net.au/news/2025-07-0…

A very interesting report graphically illustrating failures in workforce planning which will bedevil our health system for years to come. Also, so little commentary on s.xxiiiA which is a defining feature of paltry regulation. #OOPs are the bane of #PHI. grattan.edu.au/wp-content/upl…

For 20 years priv hosps were a reliable "river of gold" for investors (just ask Ramsay). Then came the disruption in the form of Covid, increased day surgery and whopping OOPs. @Healthscope was unable to cope and PHI was, rightly, unwilling to pay. abc.net.au/news/2025-05-2…

New from me: $10m was spent on these melanoma scanners. Doctors were better at detecting cancer A complex story about technology, overdiagnosis, and Australia's national cancer theage.com.au/national/10m-w…

Just in case you see a social media ad trying to have a go at Kate McClymont... Here she explains who's behind it. Kate is a national treasure as all good people know.

@ShaunCGath Pretty excited about the ‘no-gap’ part

This is an interesting model which couldn’t exist but for advances in surgery and postoperative care. A lot has to go right for this to succeed with, one assumes, some vetting where patients concerned. “It’s not for everybody” might become a slogan. abc.net.au/news/2025-04-2…

@RichardHanney22 It’s the behaviour that’s troubling and unacceptable, not surgeons or men

@Mon4Kooyong As a leader in the private health sector this bizarre rampage is a grotesque display of misogyny. It doesn’t matter who you are, there should be zero tolerance and firm consequences.

Australia has a crisis of gendered violence against women. Misogyny in the political sphere just fans the flame.

@craig778saints1 This behaviour is bizarre and sickening. The misogyny on display is unacceptable and there must be consequences #auspol

Greg Malham should be de registered ASAP . Bloody disgusting #auspol

@Peter_Fitz Bizarre and sickening behaviour, particularly the misogyny on display. Will there be consequences?

‘Chilling’ video shows surgeon stomping on Monique Ryan corflute smh.com.au/politics/victo…

@deemadigan Ouch

@Kate_McClymont Oh dear

Gee, I'd love to know what background checks Trumpet of Patriots does. Convicted fraudster and ex-bankrupt David Sarikaya (aka Kaye) is running for the seat of Reid. He also bought his PhD online. Here is a charming text message he sent me. BTW, Azrail is the Angel of Death.

@ShaunCGath Focussing on the claims ratio is the wrong starting point, unless your goal is to somehow nationalise the sector. What will happen in the real world is more likely a negotiated short term solution to keep essential services running in areas where PHI members have few options.

I’m seriously troubled about this potential intervention - arguably the last frontier where a notionally free market exists in #PHI. Once we cross this line, experience shows it’ll be very hard to rewind. Inevitably to the long term detriment of consumers. afr.com/policy/health-…

@PHA_Healthcare @MikeSmithAFR @FinancialReview Fiddling around with the Claims Ratio will not fix private hospitals’ problems and could seriously destabilise the private health insurance sector in ways that will not benefit consumers or providers

The average claims ratio for private health insurance has barely moved over the past 20 years. It has consistently been around 84-86% with the exception of the pandemic period when it once reached 88%. @MikeSmithAFR @FinancialReview

@KosSamaras @Accent_Research Utterly predictable. The only reason we have been able to build a first-class team in my organisation is by offering fully flexible work.

On Saturday, our findings (RedBridge and @Accent_Research ) revealed the full cost of the Coalition’s work from home policy. It was a significant misstep. Today the Coalition has announced they are dumping that policy.

@kevinbonham Yikes….

If you are left-leaning and thinking of voting for the FUSION party in the Senate, any involvement of Vern Hughes is an extremely good reason not to.