AMA says $5 rebate should not be limited to bulk billed consultations
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, today calls on the Senate not to reject the additional $5 rebate for children and concession cardholders who are bulk billed.
Dr Glasson said many people have already benefited from the $5 rebate, which came into effect on 1 February this year.
"There's no need for this current regulation to go back to the drawing board. Too many people would lose.
But Dr Glasson said the rebate should be available to all children under 16 and concession cardholders, not just those who have access to a GP who bulk bills.
"Tying the additional $5 patient rebate to bulk billing seriously disadvantages patients who do not have access to a bulk billing doctor," Dr Glasson said.
"With bulk billing rates as low as about 30 per cent in some regions, particularly rural areas, many needy patients will not get the benefit of the extra patient rebate.
"GPs are hard enough to find, let alone one that bulk bills.
"Limiting the rebate to patients who are bulk billed will not encourage more doctors to bulk bill.
"The central issue for Australian voters is getting access to a doctor at an affordable price - not bulk billing.
"New policy is urgently needed to include the $5 rebate for all consultations for children and concession card holders," Dr Glasson said.
But Dr Glasson acknowledges that the $5 rebate is a short-term solution to a seriously under funded Medicare.
"Increasing patient costs sadly are a feature of the Medicare system. This will only be addressed once the Medical Benefit Schedule (MBS) is realistically funded.
"We need more doctors and we need a more realistic MBS," Dr Glasson said.
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306