Health policy

• By far the most significant decision the Howard government made in 2003 was to support the invasion of Iraq.
• While the Howard government had many other important issues to manage in that year, the Iraq War consumed most attention and sparked most debate in the wider community.

Entering the war

• But in March 2003, Prime Minister John Howard asked the full cabinet to confirm the decision to commit Australia to war.
• Howard advised Hollingworth there was no need to refer to the governor-general any decision to commit Australia to war.
• The governor-general had been consulted but did not need to give his approval, and cabinet had agreed to send Australian troops to war.
• Howard was determined to take advantage of the Iraq war to strengthen the alliance.
• In 2003, public opinion was opposed to Australian participation in the war.
• However, the government was aided by the effusive support of News Corporation papers for its position on the war.

Beyond the war

• Ten years after the agreement came into force, however, analysis showed it had diverted trade away from the lowest-cost sources.
• Read more:
  How the US trade deal undermined Australia's PBS

  Other papers relate to health policy.

• Howard sought to blunt an effective Labor campaign against the erosion of the rate of bulk-billing under Medicare.
• It described the package as a “decisive step away from the principle of universality that has underpinned Medicare since its inception”.

Resources boom – and missed opportunities

• This offered hope Australia could maintain a constructive relationship with its closest ally as well as its major trading partner.
• Three opportunities were missed in 2003.
• One was to establish a sovereign wealth fund to invest the temporary windfall gains from the mining boom.

David Lee is a member of Australians for War Powers Reform.

• As CEO of AHIMA, Dr. Klauer assumes the pivotal role of being the visionary leader who will lead the organization into the future.
• "We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Klauer to AHIMA as our new CEO," said AHIMA President/Chair of the Board Jennifer Mueller, MBA, RHIA, SHIMSS, FACHE, FAHIMA.
• With Dr. Klauer at the helm, we eagerly anticipate a bright future, working together to advance the AHIMA mission of empowering people to impact health®."
• "AHIMA extends its sincere appreciation to Mosser for her exceptional leadership during the transition and CEO search," said Mueller.

• Healthinsurance.org also offered additional tips for people during the final month of open enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans, also known as Obamacare.
• During the first week of open enrollment – which started Nov. 1 – an estimated 1.6 million people signed up for a plan at HealthCare.gov, including 301,000 first-time buyers.
• “Also, they could end up with coverage under two different plans in 2024 if their existing plan auto-renews and then they select a different plan after Dec. 15.
• Ultimately, with time of the essence during this enrollment period, consumers shouldn’t delay exploring their ACA coverage options.

• BALTIMORE, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Urological Association (AUA) is pleased to announce Beth Andersen, MD, FAAP, has been named the 2024 AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar.
• A highly competitive award, the Gallagher Health Policy Scholar Program is a rigorous year-long training initiative aiming to equip urologists for leadership roles in health policy.
• Additionally, scholars engage in a week-long health policy seminar for surgeons supported by the American College of Surgeons.
• “I am honored to be selected as the 2024 AUA Gallagher Health Policy Scholar,” said Dr. Andersen.