As usual, health issues are high on the agenda of the 2016 federal election campaign, with pathology bulk billing and the present government’s freeze on Medicare patient rebates attracting close attention.
Regarding the rebate freeze, the Royal Australian College of General Practice has launched a campaign of in-practice posters and TV ads themed “You’ve been targeted”.
RACGP says, “The extension of the freeze on Medicare payments until 2020 is a false economy which will impact the people who will pay the most - those who can afford it the least - ordinary Australians who have to see their GP.”
GP Speak sought comment from the leading candidates for the seat of Page, which covers much of the Northern Rivers. The Nationals hold the seat by a slender 3.1% margin.
Kevin Hogan (Nationals) Member for Page:
I welcome the Government’s agreement with Pathology Australia that will allow the pathology sector to continue to provide all Australians affordable access to pathology services through maintaining the current bulk billing rates.
The Government will continue to work with the medical profession on our Healthier Medicare reforms, including the MBS review.
As an article of good faith, the Minister for Health has made it clear that she is open to a future review of the current indexation pause as work of the review progresses to identify waste and inefficiencies in the system.
Janelle Saffin (ALP), candidate and former MP for Page:
The Federal Coalition's Medicare ongoing Budget Freeze will cause financial hardship to people right across the Page electorate. With low incomes and low bulk billing rates, I am worried that it will cause some not to consult their GPs when they most need health care.
Sydney University's Family Medicine Research Centre findings show that it will lead to higher costs for patients, culminating in an extra $14.40 by 2020.
With our median income just over $41,000, and many pensioners, self funded retirees, unemployed and students receiving much lower than that, this is just too much.
It costs a lot to run a GP practice and rising costs will be passed on.
Dr. Brian Owler AMA President hit the nail on the head, saying, "The poorest, the sickest and the most vulnerable will be hardest hit."
RACGP is calling it a Co-Payment by stealth. It is worse than that. I see it is a tax on GP health services, with our GPs becoming the tax collectors.
Labor’s position is clear – Labor will scrap the freeze and protect Medicare.
I have to ask where Mr. Hogan our National Party MP where he was when this decision was made, a decision that hurts our community. We need effective representation, in particular for our health services.
