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Bridging the access gap: Medicare ineligibility in people living with chronic hepatitis B
Author(s) -
MacLachlan Jennifer H.,
Cowie Benjamin C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.14175
Subject(s) - medicine , chronic hepatitis , bridging (networking) , health care , hepatitis b , gerontology , family medicine , environmental health , economic growth , immunology , computer network , virus , computer science , economics
People living in Australia on temporary student or work visas are excluded from Medicare access and can face barriers to adequate healthcare, even if they are privately insured. This analysis aimed to quantify this issue in relation to people living with chronic hepatitis B, the majority of whom in Australia were born overseas. The data suggest that an estimated 25 000 people living with chronic hepatitis B in Australia are ineligible for Medicare, 10% of the total number affected, with considerable potential impact in access to effective healthcare and prevention of adverse outcomes.