Health spent a lot of time in the spotlight in 2016. Medicare was a major issue in Australia’s federal election and numerous government reviews into health were announced and reported. Labor campaigned hard for this year’s election to be a referendum on the future of Medicare. While changes to the billing system would have no effect on access to Medicare, the attempt at fear-mongering (labelled “Mediscare”) resonated with voters and became a major election headache for the Coalition. As Jim Gillespie wrote, it was successful because the Coalition has a history of “ambivalence – or open hostility” to Medicare. Fear also surrounded the future costs of medical tests and imaging, as the government announced it would remove the bulk-billing incentives for pathologists. Pathologists said they would have to pass on the cost to patients, until a deal was struck with the government to help rein in rental costs.

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