It is amazing how many new health dollars can be found at election time

Sep 6 2004

The Australian Medical Association President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the Government had well and truly trumped Labor’s New Deal to Save Medicare with an even newer and better deal to save Medicare.

Dr Glasson said he welcomed the fact that both sides now recognise the importance of the universality of Medicare, but the Government’s deal is stronger because access to the higher patient rebate is not based on a compulsion for GPs to bulk bill all patients.

“It is amazing how many new health dollars can be found at election time,” Dr Glasson said.

“The Government has matched Labor’s Medicare offer and extended it significantly.

“Now all patients have unencumbered access to increased Medicare rebates.

“More importantly, the Government has removed the bulk billing compulsion element that was at the heart of their earlier package and which was central to the Labor package announced earlier today.

“The AMA still has concerns about the $5.00 and $7.50 bulk billing incentives that remain in the system. They apply to some patients in some areas only. Geographically-based incentives detract from the Government’s new found enthusiasm for the universality of Medicare.

“We would like to have seen a move by the Government to embrace the 7-tier GP consultation model suggested by the Attendance Item Restructure Working Group (AIRWG).

“Given the amount of funding that appears to be now available, the AIRWG model is clearly affordable. The 7-tier system will deliver longer quality consultations and support quality general practice.”

Dr Glasson said the AMA welcomes the Government’s decision to raise the payment to GPs who treat veterans under the Local Medicare Officer (LMO) Scheme to 115 per cent of the Medicare fee plus the Veterans’ Access Payment.

“This will make up for the inadequate LMO increases announced late last week,” Dr Glasson said.

While Labor has been outbid on Medicare rebates, Dr Glasson said some of the smaller initiatives in Labor’s New Deal should not be overlooked.

“Although involving relatively small levels of funding, some of Labor’s other policy announcements are a move in the right direction.

“We support their policies on greater assistance and training for Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs); GP retraining programs; upskill assistance for rural and procedural GPs; mentoring and support for rural medical students; and initiatives to increase the medical workforce.

“These policies are a recognition of some of the problems confronting GPs, patients and communities,” Dr Glasson said.

“On today’s announcements, though, the Government has clearly taken the initiative on Medicare.

“But there is no doubt there will be more bids before the election from both sides.

“The AMA wants to see a greater acknowledgement from both sides that fee-for-service remains the most efficient model for providing access and choice to patients for their medical care – and the independence of the doctor-patient relationship must be preserved.” Dr Glasson said.