Good Budget news for Veterans' health care
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that veterans and their specialists would be heartened by funding increases to the Repatriation Private Patients Scheme (RPPS).
Dr Glasson said the AMA and veterans groups had been lobbying for greater funding for some time.
"Veterans made the greatest sacrifice possible to serve their country in times of conflict and paid the price of poor health in their later years," Dr Glasson said.
"The Government and the community must provide them with the highest quality health care.
"The Budget provides new RPPS funding from1 January 2005of $158 million over four years for the treatment of veterans by specialists.
"This represents an across the board fee increase of 15 per cent for consultations and 20 per cent for procedures, which allows specialists to provide the level of care necessary to meet the special needs of veterans.
"Our ageing veterans frequently suffer from multiple, complex ailments, which require longer consultations.
"Although modest and belated, the RPPS funding increase is welcome.
"The AMA would now like to see similar funding increases for the Local Medical Officer (LMO) Scheme under which GPs treat veterans," Dr Glasson said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306