PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended his backdown on the $7 GP co-payment, saying it’s proof the parliamentary system is working.
THE government has ditched plans for the mandatory co-payment and is instead introducing an optional $5 payment to be charged at the discretion of doctors to make up for a reduction in the rebate they’ll receive from Medicare.
Pensioners and other concession card holders, children under 16 and those living in aged-care facilities will be exempt from the charge. Mr Abbott denied the new policy was a backflip, but said it was a sign of an effective Senate – which had been blocking the budget measure. He said price signals were not a bad thing and the new “modest” charge would ensure Medicare flourished in the future. “I’m a great supporter of Medicare,” he told Channel Nine. “I used to say I was the best friend that Medicare had ever had.” Mr Abbott said the government was also addressing what he labelled “six-minute sausage machine” medicine. Consultations of less than 10 minutes will attract a Medicare rebate of $11.95 only. A rebate of $32.05 will apply for standard consultations between 10 and 20 minutes. The government consulted with doctors on the proposal and Mr Abbott believes many are “pretty supportive”. The Australian Medical Association has welcomed exemptions for vulnerable groups but says doctors will be forced to charge the $5 co-payment to others. Health Minister Peter Dutton says the government has found the right balance with the new policy. “On higher incomes, we’re asking people for a $5 co-payment or an optional co-payment,” he told ABC radio. Labor says the modified plan is a backdoor way of introducing a co-payment while the Greens have accused the government of forcing doctors to do its “dirty work”. The changes don’t need parliamentary approval, but they could be disallowed by the Senate if Labor and the Greens get sufficient support from the cross bench.