Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—At the request of Senator Steele-John, I move Greens amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1922 together:

That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendments:

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 2), after "1", insert ", 1A".

(2) Page 3 (after line 18), after Schedule 1, insert:

Schedule 1A — Speech pathology health services

Part 1 — Amendments

Health Insurance (Section 3C Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Services) Determination 2020

1 Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

consultant physician has the same meaning as in subsection 3(1) of the Act.

specialist has the same meaning as in subsection 3(1) of the Act.

speech pathologist means a person who is a practising member of Speech Pathology Australia.

telehealth attendance means a professional attendance by video conference where the rendering health practitioner:

(a) has the capacity to provide the full service through this means safely and in accordance with the relevant professional standards; and

(b) is satisfied that it is clinically appropriate to provide the service to the patient; and

(c) maintains a visual and audio link with the patient; and

(d) is satisfied that the software and hardware used to deliver the service meets the applicable laws for security and privacy.

2 At the end of section 7

Add:

(8) Items 75854A, 75854B and 75854C that include the symbol (ASP) apply only to a service provided by a speech pathologist.

3 After Part 3 of the Schedule

Add:

Part 4 Group C4 Speech pathology health services

Part 2 — Other provisions

4 Application of amendments

The amendments of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Services) Determination 2020 made by this Schedule apply in relation to an assessment or speech pathology health service provided on or after the commencement of this Schedule.

5 Affirmative resolution

(1) This item applies to a legislative instrument made under subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 that:

(a) is made on or after the commencement of this Schedule; and

(b) has the effect of amending or repealing, or otherwise altering the effect or operation of, the amendments of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Services) Determination 2020 made by this Schedule.

(2) The legislative instrument does not come into effect until it has been approved by a resolution of each House of the Parliament.

Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

Amendment (2) is framed as a request because it amends the Health Insurance (Section 3C Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Services) Determination 2020 to create Medicare benefits in respect of assessments and professional services rendered by speech pathologists to eligible patients. The amendment would increase the amount of Medicare benefit payments made from the Medicare Guarantee Fund (Health) Special Account.

As the effect of this amendment is to increase the amount of payments made from the Medicare Guarantee Fund (Health) Special Account, the amendment will increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 80 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 or in certain circumstancesthe standing appropriation in section 18 of the Medicare Guarantee Act 2017.

Amendment (1)

Amendment (1) is consequential on amendment (2).

Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000

Amendment (2)

If the effect of the amendment is to increase the amount of expenditure under a standing appropriation, then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendment be moved as a request.

Amendment (1)

This amendment is consequential on the request. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.

These Greens amendments, circulated by Senator Steele-John, address the key request of CleftPALS that has been requested for many, many years for speech pathology services to be covered under Medicare. The Greens support this amendment, CleftPALS support this amendment and Speech Pathology Australia support this amendment. I note the government saying they are not going to be supporting this amendment because, basically, there's got to be a process to consider it. There has been so much evidence prepared, there is no reason why we need to further delay having these essential services covered under Medicare. The evidence is very clearly there. To quote CleftPALS: 'Affordable access to speech therapy is pivotal for children with cleft lip and palate conditions. It substantially improves their communication skills, boosts their self-esteem and enhances their overall quality of life.' Regrettably, the current exclusion of speech pathology services from the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme creates undue financial hardship for families already grappling with the realities of the condition.

Consider the experiences of Janeane Wolfe, whose son, Jack, has undergone multiple operations due to his cleft lip and palate. Wolfe highlighted the struggle saying:

You're weighing up, do you pay your mortgage, put food on the table and pay your bills. Or do you spend this money on something that you really can't afford?

In support of the Greens amendment, CleftPALS wrote, 'The proposed amendment by CleftPALS New South Wales, CleftPALS Victoria and Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John offers a lifeline to families by including speech pathology services in the existing Medicare cleft scheme. It's not uncommon for children affected by cleft lip and palate to undergo over 10 surgeries across 25 years to facilitate their mouth and jaw development. Depending on the severity of the condition, these children may need multiple rounds of intensive speech therapy to communicate effectively.' In a change.org petition, which collected over 14,000 signatures, Jessica Beckman, the parent of Ethan who is affected by cleft lip and palate, shared:

My son Ethan is affected by cleft and palate. Not having a palate makes speech, language and communication difficult, as this affects his development and behaviour. This affects me because speech pathology services are not free and NDIS is very difficult—