Veterans deserve a better deal

AMA General Practice Chair, Dr David Rivett, said today Australian doctors recognise the great sacrifices made by the veteran community and will do all they can to ensure veterans have access to quality care.

But, Dr Rivett said, rebates for veterans should be realistically funded, recognising the complex nature of medical issues facing this ageing group in our community.

"Veterans were promised access to a gold standard medical insurance scheme," Dr Rivett said.

"But the scheme must be properly funded and not rely on the goodwill of doctors to survive.

"GP LMOs who care for Veterans now find the rebates very similar to bulk-billed rebates for children under the age of 16 and other card holders.

"Medicare Plus has seen an increase of $5 in the rebate for children and other card holders, but Veterans been forgotten.

"Our ageing veterans frequently suffer from an multiple, complex ailments, which require longer consultations than do consultations for most other cardholders and children.

"DVA rebates must be urgently increased for specialists and GPs alike, to ensure veterans get access to the care they need.

"For three years the Department of Veterans Affairs has refused to negotiate the amount paid to medical specialists for the treatment of veterans.

"The Government insists on paying the Medicare schedule fee for all specialist consultations and procedures for veterans.

"Medicare fees have been deliberately kept down using a government formula, which is out of touch with the CPI, let alone the actual cost of running a medical practice.

"Many GPs have a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs to see and treat veterans at rates which are nowhere near the average fees for private patients, but at least up to now they have been a bit ahead of the fees paid by government for bulk billing patients in the general community.

"Now even that margin is disappearing.

"The MedicarePlus package's additional $5 for concession card holders doesn't apply to veterans.

"Far from being ahead of the pack, ageing veterans are falling behind at a time when their medical needs are becoming increasingly complex.

"The Government must commit now to genuine negotiations on reasonable fees for veterans' medical treatment.

"The alternative is that GPs and specialists will have no choice but to stop treating veterans or charge them the standard rates for their services.

"That would leave the government to figure out how to handle the substantial out-of-pocket expenses that veterans would face.

"Is the AMA the only one complaining about this issue?  Not on your nellie!  Ask the RSL and other veterans' groups what they think of this stingy, cost-cutting policy for our veterans," Dr Rivett said.

23 February 2004

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