Medicare Under Pressure - And it Shows

AMA Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, today called on the Federal Government to properly fund Medicare to ensure all Australians have equal access to affordable medical services.

"The creative billing practices that emerged today, where those who can afford to pay get treated ahead of patients who need to be bulk billed, prove Medicare is under strain and an attempt is being made to afford some patients free medicine. This is clearly inequitable," Dr Haikerwal said.

"All patients should be treated equally, based on clinical need, not on their ability to pay," Dr Haikerwal said.

Dr Haikerwal made the comments today as senior health economists met with Government at a Medicare roundtable ahead of the Senate inquiry into Medicare.

"Medicare is under extreme pressure with less than 70 per cent of Australians now being bulk billed," Dr Haikerwal said.

"GPs provide high quality services which are cost effective, but are under pressure to make these services affordable.

"Patients increasingly have the choice to pay a small out-of-pocket gap - or having no service at all.

"The current list of fees, used by the Government to determine the Medicare rebate (the Medical Benefits Schedule) is way out of date.

"When a doctor agrees to bulk bill a patient, the patient is getting a 50 per cent reduction on the true cost of that service.

"The truth is - the Government is paying a 50 per cent rebate - not the hypothetical 85 per cent.

"The current Medicare system and proposed Medicare package are in grave danger of enshrining a two-tier system of health care in Australia. This is totally unacceptable.

"Patients are finding it harder to see a local doctor, they are paying more of their household incomes on health because of Government's under funding of Medicare.

"The key issues in primary health care are access and affordability. Medicare rebates must be increased to reflect the realistic cost of providing medical services, and to ensure all Australians get access to the care they need, with minimal out-of-pocket expenses.

"Australians like Medicare because it gives them choice, access and affordability," Dr Haikerwal said.

CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306