Optometry Australia (OA) is renewing its call for the Federal Government to reinstate Medicare-subsidised eye exams every two years for all Australians under 65, with the latest figures showing a “disturbing drop-off” in the checks.
Budget changes in the 2014 Federal Budget meant subsidised exams every two years were scrapped and are now done every three years.
OA says that has meant fewer Australians having access to comprehensive eye exams.
“We foresaw a drop in the number of Australians in this age group accessing primary eyecare – and data shows that we were right,” it said in a statement.
Analysis of the use of the subsidy – MBS Item 10910 – shows that per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations nationally fell from 8,898 services per 100,000 population in 2017-18 to 7,284 in 2023-24, an 18.1% reduction nationally for people aged under 65 years.
In a statement, OA said the analysis “confirms our members’ concerns, showing that not enough asymptomatic Australians aged under 65 are having comprehensive eye examinations once every three years, let alone every two years as clinically recommended”.
“We know that these patients may have, or be at risk of, ocular conditions that do not currently affect their sight, but which can result in vision impairment or vision loss if not identified fast enough to be managed effectively.”
In response the organisation is preparing its Eyes on Medicare campaign, with a focus on the 2025 federal election and reinstatement of Medicare-subsidised eye exams every two years for all Australians under 65.
“In the coming months, we aim to draw attention to this issue,” it said.
“We are bringing this important matter to the attention of the Federal Minister for Health, Mr Mark Butler, and the Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Ms Anne Ruston.”
“We are also calling for the major political parties to address this issue in their election platforms.
OA would also “call on the sector to publicly support this initiative and we look forward to working with many to put primary eyecare, and the need for asymptomatic Australians to access regular comprehensive eye exams, on the political agenda in 2025.
“We will also be asking for government funding for our national awareness-raising campaign on childhood myopia, launching in early 2025.”
That analysis of MBS Item 10910 also showed:
- The number of Australians aged under 65 getting Medicare subsidised initial comprehensive eye examinations fell from 2,234,228 in 2017-18 to 1,956,402 in 2023-24 (a 12.4% reduction).
- If the 2017-18 per capita rate for under-65s was maintained, there would have been 2,461,284 initial comprehensive eye examinations (an additional 424,101 eye examinations)¹ in 2023-24.
The per capita drop-off between 2017-18 and 2023-24 was in all states and territories. Women aged under 65 had a higher per capita drop off compared to men, and all age cohorts from 0-5 years to 55-64 year had a reduction in their per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations between 2017-18 and 2023-24.
“We believe there are multiple reasons for this disturbing drop-off,” OA said.
“The 6.2% reduction in per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations between 2022-23 and 2023-24 indicates that cost-of-living issues may be having an impact. Also understandably, numbers fell during COVID. However, in all states and territories, per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations were lower in 2023-24 than in 2020-21 (during COVID).”
Asymptomatic Australians were not accessing the regular eyecare they need, it said.
“Projections show that the greatest increase in the absolute number of Australians with vision loss is expected between 2020 and 2030. This is highly concerning, and it is predicted to continue if we don’t address the root cause – not enough Australians are accessing comprehensive eye examinations.”
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