Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-18 Daily Xml

Contents

SHINE SA

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Has the government been informed by SHine SA that it will have no choice but to remove front-line health services due to the funding cuts, which will increase pressure on emergency departments? Another round of funding cuts to the most vulnerable.

The PRESIDENT: We don't need the commentary, the Hon. Mr Wortley.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley: The most vulnerable.

The PRESIDENT: We do not need the commentary. The question was fine.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:08): In terms of what communication we have had from SHine SA since the budget, I will take it on notice because I need to check with my department. I think it is important again to appreciate that services evolve over time. SHine SA provides a comprehensive sexual health service for vulnerable members of the South Australian community at high risk of sexually transmissible infections.

It is our view that SHine SA will continue to provide clinical services through billing under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. SHine SA has increasingly used Medicare billing in recent years to the point where their reliance on funding from SA Health for their core program has declined from around 80 per cent in 2013-14 to around 60 per cent in 2016-17. The funding change reflects the fact that SHine SA is increasingly utilising Medicare funding, and it is our view that there is further capacity to do so.