TONY Abbott has told the Australian Medical Association he is willing to examine alternative models for the $7 GP co-payment, the national doctors’ body says. AMA president Brian Owler, speaking after a “very constructive” meeting with the Prime Minister and Health Minister Peter Dutton in Canberra, said he would return with alternative co-payment models that would enjoy the public support of his organisation, if adopted. The currently proposed $7 fee on medical services is designed to discourage unnecessary doctors’ visits and pour $20 billion into a medical research future fund. Dr Owler said: “The Prime Minister made it fairly clear in the meeting that they were willing to look at alternative models and consider those on their merits. “For the first time, (we have received) an indication at least that there’s a willingness to revisit the model that they have put forward in the budget.” Dr Owler acknowledged many patients could afford to pay more towards their health care, but the co-payment should not apply to the most disadvantaged and areas where it would be “impractical”, such as in residential care facilities. “It’s too early to make a simple statement about who should or should not be carved out” of qualification for the co-payment, Dr Owler said. “I think we’ve moved away from the original proposal. I think those sorts of simple models, it’s very difficult to apply those to the complexities of health care policy.” Emergency departments must remain exempt from co-payments, and the Medicare rebate should not be decreased, he said. Dr Owler said he was opposed to funding the medical research fund through co-payments, insisting the money be found elsewhere in the budget.