Miniscule Medicare rebate increase offers little relief to doctors or patients
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that the Medicare rebate increases announced by Health Minister, Dr Wooldridge, will do little to relieve the pressure on GPs or to address increasing gap payments being made by patients.
Dr Phelps said by announcing a one-dollar increase in the rebate for a standard GP consultation from 1 November - $23.45 to $24.45 - the Minister was quite literally "passing the buck" to patients.
"This decision does not reflect any commitment to Medicare," Dr Phelps said.
"If Medicare is to survive, the Government must respond positively to the Relative Value Study which recommends a Medicare rebate of at least $45 for a 15-minute consultation.
"Instead, the chance to address a major problem in the health system has been missed.
"Pressure remains on GPs who are finding it harder to afford to run their practices because of increasing costs and red tape.
"Patients will have to become accustomed to paying their doctor's bill and claiming back their rebate from Medicare as GPs have become increasingly unwilling to continue to subsidise Medicare.
"Patients will be forced to pay higher and higher gap payments for their medical care.
"A token gesture of a one-dollar increase in the rebate will not even cover the cost of GST compliance by GPs, nor will it give comfort to the family budget.
"Failing to properly address the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will hit the poor and the elderly and the disadvantaged in the community the hardest.
"The AMA will continue to push for a proper response to the MBS from both the Government and the Opposition before the election so that Australians will not have to be further out of pocket for quality medical services," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076