Does profit-motivated patient selection exist in Australia?
Melbourne Institute Research Insight No. 07/20
Date: May 2020
Author(s):
Abstract
The proliferation of prospective payment arrangements, and more recently bundled payment models, has highlighted issues surrounding cream skimming or cherry picking within Australia’s hospital system. Cream skimming refers to when healthcare providers select patients based on financial gains as opposed to the individual’s need for care. This Research Insight looks at how cream skimming increases pressure on public hospitals, particularly in comparison to private hospitals.