AMA president Brian Owler at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The worst possible outcome for the Abbott government would be if its proposal for a $7 Medicare fee actually became law, Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler says.
Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Associate Professor Owler said public opinion was clearly against the proposal, announced in the May budget, for a $7 fee for GP visits, pathology services such as blood tests and diagnostic imaging services such as X-rays.
“I think the worst thing for the government would actually be if by some miracle they got the co-payment proposal through the Senate, because every time someone went to the doctor, they would be reminded about the co-payment,” Professor Owler said.
While the Coalition has not yet introduced legislation for the change, the proposal appears unlikely to pass the Senate, with Labor, the Greens and the Palmer United Party strongly opposed.