ASSISTANT Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has flagged big changes to the government’s proposed GP co-payment plan after consultation with health professionals on the issue.
HEALTH Minister Sussan Ley has been consulting with doctors and health groups over plans for a $5 co-payment, which would be charged by GPs for all non-concessional patients.
Health groups say the government remains set on bringing in the co-payment, despite public and backbench MP concern. Speaking on Saturday, Mr Frydenberg said there would be “significant changes to our previous approach on the medicare co-payment”. “That is the result of Sussan Ley’s extensive consultation with the sector,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News. “The prime minister has made it very clear that we won’t be pressing ahead with significant reform in that space without industry-wide consultation.” Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who’s in New Zealand for talks with this counterpart John Key, said he was intent on protecting Medicare. “It is a great system, a great system that I know and love,” Mr Abbott told reporters. “We are consulting with the medical profession. Those consultations are continuing, but at some point in time I’d certainly expect to have more to say.” The government wants the $5 co-payment levied on GP visits, after having initially flagged a $7 payment.