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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/01/families-face-huge-rise-in-cost-of-living-under-reports-recommendations
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Families face huge rise in cost of living under audit recommendations | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Families | Families |
| will face large rises in the cost of living if the recommendations of the audit | will face large rises in the cost of living if the recommendations of the audit |
| commission are introduced. | commission are introduced. |
| Families | Families |
| will pay more from birth to death, with costs rising for childcare, medical | will pay more from birth to death, with costs rising for childcare, medical |
| services, drugs, the removal of family tax benefits and the opening of | services, drugs, the removal of family tax benefits and the opening of |
| pharmacies to competition which may effect services in rural and regional | pharmacies to competition which may effect services in rural and regional |
| areas. | areas. |
| The | The |
| commission recommended a severe paring back of Tony Abbott’s Paid Parental | commission recommended a severe paring back of Tony Abbott’s Paid Parental |
| Leave scheme, capping it at average weekly earnings (currently $57,460) rather | Leave scheme, capping it at average weekly earnings (currently $57,460) rather |
| than up to $100,000 as announced this week. Childcare could see an increased | than up to $100,000 as announced this week. Childcare could see an increased |
| funding from the savings out of PPL and nannies would be funded under the | funding from the savings out of PPL and nannies would be funded under the |
| funding envelope. But childcare would face more stringent means-testing. | funding envelope. But childcare would face more stringent means-testing. |
| The | The |
| Family Tax Benefit Part B – currently paid to sole parents and stay at home | Family Tax Benefit Part B – currently paid to sole parents and stay at home |
| parents - will be abolished and only sole parent families will receive a | parents - will be abolished and only sole parent families will receive a |
| supplement to make up for the loss. | supplement to make up for the loss. |
| Co-payments | Co-payments |
| of $15 would be introduced for all Medicare funded services, with safety net | of $15 would be introduced for all Medicare funded services, with safety net |
| payment of $7.50 for more than 15 visits a year and $5 for concession card | payment of $7.50 for more than 15 visits a year and $5 for concession card |
| holders. | holders. |
| Co-payments | Co-payments |
| would also be placed on all medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme | would also be placed on all medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme |
| to ensure the introduction of “user-pays” principles. | to ensure the introduction of “user-pays” principles. |
| The | The |
| commission would like to see higher income earners encouraged to take out | commission would like to see higher income earners encouraged to take out |
| private health insurance for basic services to replace Medicare. | private health insurance for basic services to replace Medicare. |
| Likewise, | Likewise, |
| they suggest state governments should be encouraged to introduce a co-payment | they suggest state governments should be encouraged to introduce a co-payment |
| for less urgent emergency department visits. | for less urgent emergency department visits. |
| Other | Other |
| cost saving measures in Medicare include increasing the general extended | cost saving measures in Medicare include increasing the general extended |
| Medicare safety net threshold from $2,000 to $4,000 and auditing the Medicare | Medicare safety net threshold from $2,000 to $4,000 and auditing the Medicare |
| benefits schedule to replace expensive items with cheaper alternatives. | benefits schedule to replace expensive items with cheaper alternatives. |
| The commission would like to strip some of the regulations from private health | The commission would like to strip some of the regulations from private health |
| insurance funds to give greater flexibility to vary premiums to account for | insurance funds to give greater flexibility to vary premiums to account for |
| “lifestyle” factors like smoking. | “lifestyle” factors like smoking. |