1:30min
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The optometry community bids farewell to the Hon. Bill Hayden, former federal Labor Leader and governor-general, who passed away, aged 90. Mr Hayden was instrumental in ensuring optometry was included in the original Medibank system, now Medicare.
Until the advent of Medibank, no benefits were paid for consultations by optometrists. The Australian Optometric Association, now known as Optometry Australia, lobbied tirelessly for nearly 25 years to have optometry included in the national health scheme. Achieving Medicare rebates for optometry consultations stands as a historic milestone for the organisation.
In 1975, when the move to amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 was passed by the Senate of the Commonwealth Parliament, making consultations eligible for government subsidy under Medibank, four items for optometry were introduced in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). Over the past four decades, sustained lobbying efforts by Optometry Australia has expanded these rebates to include 32 optometric MBS items, plus four items supporting patients to access tele-ophthalmology.
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Known to some as the ‘architect of universal healthcare in Australia’, Mr Hayden was the Minister for Social Services in the Whitlam Government when the 1975 Act passed. He played a crucial role in the development of Medibank, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged that Medicare wouldn’t have been possible without Mr Hayden’s dedication to building and championing Medibank.
Optometry Australia respectfully appreciates Mr Hayden for his role in introducing optometry into the national health scheme. In doing so, he not only acknowledged the significance of optometry as a profession, but also recognised its critical role in maintaining eye health.
Mr Hayden is survived by his wife Dallas and three children.