Stroke’s billion-dollar impact on the health economy

The budgeted cost of stroke for the National Disability Insurance Scheme has hit $1b for the first time since the scheme’s inception.

NDIS’ most recent participant data reveals there are now 8,114 Australians using the Scheme to
manage their disability caused by stroke and has budgeted an average of $135,000 for each person. The actual cost to the NDIS will be less, as most survivors of stroke use just 72 per cent of what their plans budget for. Regardless, the NDIS must budget to cover the full $1b, to ensure each participant can access their full entitlement if they need to.

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sharon McGowan, says while the Scheme is a critical tool within disability sector, its billion-dollar budget for stroke care is not a milestone to celebrate.

“This budget tells quite a confronting story,” Ms McGowan said.

“Stroke is not only one of the leading causes of adult disability in Australia but also the most preventable. This is a billion-dollar issue that the Government does not even need to have.”

Ms McGowan says 80 per cent of strokes are preventable through managing high blood pressure, diet, and being more active.

“Severe strokes take people out of society in an instant. Many people never regain full mobility, speech, or cognitive capacity and need ongoing assistance, and that is why the NDIS is so critical.”

“Yet managing our health better and investing in prevention up front will without doubt reduce the level of disability for thousands of people, and ease the burden on their families, as well as on the taxpayer.”

Ms McGowan says Stroke Foundation’s ongoing awareness campaigns about stroke prevention and emergency treatment are the most effective ways to educate Australians, and by doing so, reduce the long-term cost for the health system.

“Our work can support the Government to provide the best, most equitable health system for all Australians. With increased awareness and continued funding for public education campaigns, we can collectively reduce the amount and severity of disability from stroke. Any amount of money saved through prevention is a benefit for us all and means those critical health dollars can be invested elsewhere.”

Stroke Foundation’s aim is for someone in every Australian home or workplace to know the F.A.S.T. acronym. This simple message highlights that the most common signs of stroke are a drooping Face, inability to lift both Arms, and slurred Speech. The T stands for Time, reminding people o call triple zero immediately.

Ms McGowan says Stroke Foundation’s annual F.A.S.T. national awareness survey of 5,000 Australians shows how levels of awareness differ across the country by as much as 18 per cent. That that significant variation is why Stroke Foundation continues to push for Federal Government investment in a long-term national awareness campaign.

“We know continued education about F.A.S.T. works because between 2020 and 2021 we saw a 20 per cent increase in awareness in regional New South Wales. To do that we worked with the State Government and made a concerted effort to share the F.A.S.T. message repeatedly, across news media and advertising channels. Increasing that level of understanding about recognising and reacting to a stroke undoubtedly benefited many Australians.”

Awareness is not the only way to alleviate the pressure on the health system. Support and access to services play a significant part in reducing costs. A Deloitte study found improving access to stroke care in 2020 could contribute to a saving of $2.6b over five years in economic and wellbeing costs.

Stroke Foundation aims to plan its part in securing these benefits through its StrokeConnect Navigator Program, which will support survivors and families as they navigate recovery. Presently 30 per cent of Australians discharged from hospital after having a stroke do not receive post-stroke information which can add unnecessary time to recovery and means poorer health outcomes and more hospital readmissions.

Ms McGowan says Stroke Foundation is seeking a $10m Government investment to deliver this game changing program nationwide, and by doing so contribute to a legacy of financial gains for Australia’s health economy.