Illustration: Matt Golding.
An Abbott government push to allow private health insurers to cover GP visits would create a US-style two-tier health system and drive up doctors’ fees, experts have warned.
TheSunday Age has learnt Health Minister Peter Dutton has told senior health sector sources in private meetings that he is keen to allow private insurers into GP clinics. However, any change would require amendments to legislation.
Under the existing Medicare system all Australians can expect similar quality of care when they visit their doctor. Changing this to create two classes of GP patients would revolutionise Australian healthcare and potentially undermine Medicare more than the proposed $7 co-payment policy, experts say. The revolution has begun quietly with controversial trials undertaken in Queensland. Medibank Private members are receiving guaranteed appointments within 24 hours and after-hours home visits. An expansion of such trials – with superior GP services given to private patients – could endanger Australia’s world-class healthcare system, said Australian Medical Association president Professor Brian Owler.
”It would be a fundamental change in the way that general practice is funded,” he said, adding that the AMA was open to insurers being more involved in primary healthcare. But the government needed to proceed with utmost caution. ”If people go too far or the role of private health insurers is unchecked then, yes, it could have very significant consequences and produce greater inequity. We have a good healthcare system in Australia and the US model is not one we should be trying to emulate.”