Australian Medical Association says Labor’s Medicare Gold policy looks good in theory

Sep 29 2004

Australian Medical Association Vice President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today that Labor’s Medicare Gold policy is a genuine attempt to provide the long-awaited and much-needed links between hospital care, community care and aged care to ensure that older Australians have access to the right type of care in the right environment when they most need it.

Dr Haikerwal says Medicare Gold delivers on social equity and will reduce cost-shifting, but question marks still remain over medical workforce issues, and the resource capabilities of hospitals, community care and nursing homes.

“At first glance, Medicare Gold looks a comprehensive response to the health care needs of older Australians by utilising the benefits of both public and private sectors. It seeks to give elderly patients access to affordable health services regardless of whether they have private health insurance.

“However it is a very big call to ‘guarantee access’ and ‘guarantee immediate treatment’ to elderly patients especially if they need a hip replacement or have a complex medical condition.

“The AMA has serious doubts whether the claimed ‘spare capacity’ in the private system actually exists or, if it does, if all those hospitals are equipped to provide the complex care required by elderly patients.

“There is also the question of which patients will be pushed to the end of the queue to allow patients over 75 years guaranteed immediate treatment.

“Medicare Gold is all about giving preferential hospital treatment to elderly patients by putting them ahead of the queue, but is prioritising care based on age ahead of need consistent with a universal health care system?

“The AMA will also take a closer look at the medical workforce requirements necessary for Medicare Gold to succeed, and when we examine the proposed arrangements for doctors to provide services to these patients, we will reject any component that reduces the ability of the doctor to advocate for and deliver the best care for the patients.

“Labor’s assurance that elderly patients will have a choice of doctors under this scheme may well be wishful thinking. Doctors will not participate if the scheme places pressure on a doctor’s independence or the doctor-patient relationship.

“We are encouraged that Labor has promised to maintain the 30 per cent private health rebate, and look forward to hearing more from Labor about enhanced funding and resources for community care and nursing homes.

“Without a commitment to support quality care for the elderly in all settings, including through endorsement of quality general practice consultations under the proposed 7-tier model, Medicare Gold will tarnish very quickly,” Dr Haikerwal said.