SUSSAN Ley says she is confident doctors will support a “value signal” for patient visits as the government seeks a consensus on a new co-payment policy.
After meeting with doctors in Sydney yesterday, the Health Minister said there was broad agreement with the sector that a new charge could be applied to patients who had the ability to pay. She also flagged the potential of a two-tiered payment scenario for non-concessional patients.
“There are too many consultations costing nothing for those who can afford to pay something,” she said.
“Bulk billing is there to protect the vulnerable, but those that can pay a little bit more need to do that, and those that can pay a bit more again also need to.”
Ms Ley said the government had “pressed the pause button” on a $5 cut to the Medicare rebate, but remained hopeful of finding a consensus position with the health sector on a revised co-payment.
A new charge — now referred to as a “value signal” by the minister — would be the third iteration of the government’s co-payment, which was first announced as a $7 fee in last year’s budget. This was dumped in December and replaced with the $5 cut to the Medicare schedule payment for non-concessional patients, which would have forced doctors to either pass on the cut or absorb the cost.
Ms Ley said it was vital for the government to hear from the sector about which policies would work in a “frank and fearless” discussion with doctors.
“We have pressed the pause button, at some point we will press the restart button, and then clearly there will be a policy that everyone can live with,” she said.
Source: The Australian