Interview - Dr Kerryn Phelps, AMA Presdient, with ABC Radio, 'The World Today' - Health Minister's response to health reform opposition a 'copout': AMA

ELEANOR HALL: It appears the Federal Government is not on a winner with its Medicare reforms, at least according to the latest opinion polls.

Two surveys, one in The Australian and the other in the Fairfax papers, show that most people think the Government's proposals for changing bulk billing and funding more nurses and doctors in rural areas will leave them worse off.

The Health Minister Kay Patterson says, "Labor lies" are responsible for the hostility to the Government's proposed reforms, but the Australian Medical Association says "that's a cop out", claiming that the public now agrees with doctors that the plan won't work. And Labor says that it's simply that Australians are rightly suspicious about the Government's agenda on Medicare.

This report from our Chief Political Correspondent, Catherine McGrath.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: It's an overhaul that the Government had hoped the public would embrace and accept; $916-million spent over four years to provide incentives for GPs to bulk bill concession card holders, and in the process removing the need for patients to pay the whole medical bill upfront at a doctor's surgery, plus more country doctors and extra nurses.

But the polls indicate the public isn't thrilled with the plan. The AC Nielsen poll says 40 per cent of those surveyed believe they'd be worse off, while the Newspoll says 46 per cent felt that way.

The outgoing President of the Australian Medical Association, Kerryn Phelps, says the polls are telling.

KERRYN PHELPS: This is one of those instances where the general public agrees wholeheartedly with their doctors that this package is not the answer to the problems facing the health system in this country.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Well, the Health Minister says Labor lies are responsible for the public not understanding, not accepting this policy.

KERRYN PHELPS: Well, I think that's a copout. The people who do understand it have said that they don't think that they'll be better off, and certainly the analysis of the general practice groups is that general practice won't be better off and so it doesn't seem that there will be too many winners out of this package.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Even the group most targeted by the Government for assistance, the Rural Doctors' Association, says the package falls short and its members aren't embracing it.

President, Dr Ken Mackey.

KEN MACKEY: The number of members that have suggested that they will take it up, they're still quite small. I would estimate 10 to 15 per cent.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: And, says Dr Mackey, the view of his members is that they may not be better off if they sign up.

KEN MACKEY: Well, I think certainly for our members the $6 extra per consultation, only for the bulk bill patients, that's the healthcare card holders, is a step forward, but I don't think it's enough. Our members are saying that it's not enough, and certainly for the urban doctors it's way below what is required for them to commit to such a system.

So, that's the main thing. It's a financial matter for most of our doctors and that includes the urban doctors who are way behind the eight-ball on this sort of one.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: There's still the hurdle of this legislation getting through the Senate. The Democrats agree with some aspects of it, such as increasing the doctor and nurse numbers, but it's still suggesting it will block key aspects.

Senator Lyn Allison says she isn't surprised by today's polls.

LYN ALLISON: I think the public is saying that they haven't been asked about this, these measures, that there's been a lack of consultation across the board, and that's been reflected in the criticism the Government has received from a very wide variety of groups.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Can I put to you, though, what the Government is saying today and has said since this policy was released. It says Medicare is not being abolished, Medicare is not being dismantled. The Government also says that under this scheme GPs and patients will be better off because they'll be given incentives to be bulk billed.

LYN ALLISON: They will appear to be better off in the short-term, but I think it's clear that long-term we're going to see a massive increase in health costs, because there is no longer any imperative for doctors to contain their costs.

We're also going to see much more of the cost of other services, like oncology, will - and pathology - will be transferred across to individuals and to be coped with, if you like, by private health insurance.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: The Government maintains Medicare is not being dismantled.

Health Minister, Kay Patterson.

KAY PATTERSON: Let me just wait until we see the package in the Senate and compare it with what the Labor Party says it's going to do and let the people also decide that they will be more likely to be bulk billed if they're on a healthcare card, that they will be able to go to their doctor, pay the up-front fee, not have to pay the up-front fee I mean, just pay the difference between the rebate and what the doctor charges, instead of having to go to the Medicare office.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Labor, meantime, says those who aren't pensioners or concession card holders will be disadvantaged.

ELEANOR HALL: Chief Political Correspondent Catherine McGrath.

Ends