A central Queensland doctor is concerned changes to the Federal Government’s GP co-payment proposal will mean rural doctors become ‘tax collectors for the government’.
The original proposal to make patients pay an extra $7 fee for GP visits was dumped earlier this week.
The new plan cuts the Medicare rebate given to doctors by $5, putting pressure on GPs to charge patients for the shortfall.
Dr Ewen McPhee has been working as a general practitioner in Emerald for the past 25 years and says the changes pose a serious threat to rural practices and their communities.
“It’s something that is going to threaten significantly the viability of practices in rural and remote locations,” he said.
“I’ve seen quite significant stress in the community regarding job losses with the mining industry, regarding losses of farms after the major floods.
“I’ve got very proud people coming to me and asking to be bulk-billed and really [the changes] are going to change the way general practitioners try and survive.
“We’re going to have to say no. If you’re not within one of the under sixteens or have a healthcare card… you’re going to have to pay.
“We cannot afford to not pass on this GP tax to patients. I guess effectively we have become tax collectors for the government.
“How do we now deal with young kids coming in for immunisations? They’re going to have to pay more.
“How are we going to deal with people wanting their Warfarin managed? Well they’re going to have to pay more.
“And wound dressings… traditionally we’ve basically not asked people to pay for wound dressings and just took it out of the rebate we get from government.
“Now we can’t afford to do so and we’re going to pass those costs on.”
Dr McPhee says he is also concerned the Federal Government’s GP co-payment proposal will make primary care look like a less attractive career choice for young clinicians.
“Probably the biggest backlash I’m seeing from young GP’s is the fact that already specialist incomes outstrip primary care and general practise income,” Dr McPhee said.
“Why would you, as a young professional with a large debt, go into an avenue of medicine where you know you’re going to be 50 per cent worse off in your income and in your ability to meet your debts and your obligations?
“I know that our Prime Minister is desperately keen to create a price signal but I just wonder if they’ve thought through the true impacts, particularly for rural and regional people.”