Some states to feel the sting of Medicare co-payment when vaccinating children

Victorian parents wanting to immunise their children are well placed to avoid the proposed $7 GP co-payment by using free council immunisation clinics, while those in other states could struggle to find alternative providers. Nationwide, three-quarters of childhood immunisations that are reported to Medicare are given by GPs, but this varies from as low as 9 per cent in the Northern Territory to 88 per cent in Tasmania. Victoria has the lowest proportion among the states, with 55 per cent of immunisations provided by GPs. Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton has declared that all visits to GPs will attract the co-payment, including visits for childhood immunisations. The co-payment will only apply if the immunisation is provided by a GP. Alternative, free immunisation providers include local councils, community health centres and Aboriginal health centres. But the Australian Medical Association has expressed concerns that the co-payment will dissuade parents from immunising their children at a time when health experts are warning that Australia could face epidemics of polio, measles and other communicable diseases if the number of people vaccinated falls below criticial levels. Already, they say, immunisation rates in some areas of the country are dangerously low. The co-payment will only apply if the immunisation is provided by a GP. Alternative, free immunisation providers include local councils, community health centres and Aboriginal health centres. Read more…