Practices on the North Coast are beginning to feel the effects of the Coalition's freeze on Medicare rebates. Several practices are foreshadowing changes to their billing practices with rises in fees and decreases in bulk billing expected.
Patients can expect to see flyers and posters such as those below encouraging patients to contact their local members, the Minister for Health and the Prime Minister about the effects the rebate freeze will have on both themselves as individuals and more generally on the Australian health system.
It is anticipated that this will become an increasingly significant issue over the next 12 months in the lead up to the next Federal election.
Flyer
To Our Valued Patients
The Federal Government’s freeze on the Medicare Rebate means there will be no increase to Medicare rebates for GP visits until 2018.
The rebate freeze applies to the entire Australian population and will lead to higher gap payments for you and reduce the number of bulk-billed consultations our practice can offer for those in need.
The Medicare rebate freeze shifts costs onto patients and will lead to fewer people seeing their GP and increase the number of people going directly to hospital. This will increase health spending NOT create budget savings.
It would be less expensive to pay for someone to see their GP every week for a year than it would be to pay for them to be admitted to hospital for just one day.
We understand how important your health is and we will do our best to help. However, our practice simply cannot afford to absorb the Abbott Government’s freeze on Medicare rebates.
If you want to stop the government’s rebate freeze you need to change its mind. Write, or even better call, your local Member of Parliament, the Minister for Health and the Prime Minister to reverse the freeze.
Member for Richmond
Labor Member for the Electorate of Richmond
Suite 6, Hallmark Centre,
107-111 Minjungbal Drive
Tweed Heads South, NSW, 2486
Phone: (02) 6621 4044 Fax: (02) 6621 4255
Member for Page
National Party Member for the Electorate of Page
63 Molesworth St,
Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: (02) 6621 4044 Fax: (02) 6621 4255
Minister for Health
Liberal Party Minister for Health and Sports
PO Box 672
ALBURY NSW 2640
Phone: (02) 6021 3264 Fax: (02) 6021 6620
The Prime Minister
Liberal Party Prime Minister
PO Box 450
Manly, NSW, 2095
Phone: (02) 9977 6411 Fax: (02) 9977 8715
References
- Stephen Duckett: GP co-payment by stealth, posted May 2015
- Australian Doctor: MBS Freeze Hits, posted July 2015
- March Quarter Consumer Price Index 2015
- Australian Centre for the Medical Home, posted November 2014
- Independent Hospital Pricing Authority Annual Report 2014
