The Federal Government has begun the sales job for its “better” GP co-payment proposal as it prepares for another round of crucial negotiations with the Senate crossbench to pass the measure.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced yesterday the original proposal to force patients to pay an extra $7 fee for GP visits had been dumped.
But the new plan cuts the Medicare rebate given to doctors by $5, putting pressure on GPs to charge patients the shortfall.
Mr Abbott denied the change was a backdown.
“This is the system working,” he told Channel 9.
“We put forward a proposal, it was obviously going to have some difficulties in the Senate. The proposal we’ve now put forward is a better proposal than the one we brought forward on budget night.”
Under the Government’s proposal 8 million patients, including children, pensioners, veterans, nursing home residents and others with concession cards would be exempt.
A co-payment on pathology and diagnostic imaging services has been dropped.
And in a bid to stop “sausage machine” medicine, the Government will only pay the standard rebate for consultations of at least 10 minutes.
The level of rebate will also be frozen over the forward estimates.
GPs will probably charge patients more, AMA says
Doctors have reacted angrily to the news, accusing the Government of creating a two-tiered health system.
The Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) Dr Brian Moreton said most GPs would probably charge patients more.
“Don’t forget that the GP runs a small business – there’s rent to pay, staff costs,” he said.
While Labor supports the move to encourage more time with patients, the switch has not budged its voting position.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Government was introducing a GP tax “through the back door”.
“They’re making doctors collect the tax for Tony Abbott,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“It’s still a broken promise and I think every Australian knows that this is the thin edge of the wedge.”
The Greens also criticised the proposal, saying it would force doctors “to do the Government’s dirty work”.
It puts the fate of the new plan squarely in the hands of the splintered Senate crossbench – where the Government will need to secure six of the eight votes.
PUP ‘unlikely’ to support new measures in Senate
Palmer United leader Clive Palmer welcomed the Government’s decision to dump the first plan, but a spokesman for the party told the ABC that it was “unlikely” to support the new measures.
Former PUP now Tasmanian indepedent Jacqui Lambie said she needed more detail before passing “final judgement”, but her initial reaction was not promising for the Government.
“This announcement also smacks of policy on the run and smells of desperation after some bad election and poll results,” she said in a statement.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said he would consider it and was “happy to talk to the Government”.
Crossbench colleague NSW Senator David Leyonhjelm said he would vote for the package but would prefer the savings not go into a medical research fund.
SA Independent Bob Day said the change was a “step in the right direction” but he wanted to see the legislation before deciding how to vote.
Yesterday, Mr Abbott did not rule out launching an advertising campaign about the changes, despite having to defend a recent campaign explaining the higher education overhaul.
This morning, Health Minister Peter Dutton said there was an argument for it but no decision had been made.
“If we need to provide information we will,” he told the ABC’s AM program.
“I think it is very important, frankly, that we counter much of the misinformation that’s about because this is a balanced package.”