Hobart Pathology chief executive Lawrie Bott says a cut to bulk-billing incentives will force his company, which does the majority of pathology testing in Tasmania outside of the public hospitals, to introduce out-of-pocket charges.
Hobart Pathology chief executive Lawrie Bott says a cut to bulk-billing incentives will force his company, which does the majority of pathology testing in Tasmania outside of the public hospitals, to introduce out-of-pocket charges.
The Government wants to scrap bulk-billing incentive payments for pathology services (worth $1.40 to $3.40) which, along with changes to bulk-billing incentives for diagnostic imaging, would save $650 million over four years.
“Maybe the early disease is not picked up when it is easily treatable,” Dr Bott said. “There are people that, if they have to pay $30 for pathology testing, they will not do it.”
Dr Bott said the incentive was introduced to ensure people who could not otherwise afford it were screening for health issues.
There are people that, if they have to pay $30 for pathology testing, they will not do it.
Cancer and diabetes screening and pap smears were heavily bulk billed but could be ignored by some when out-of-pocket expenses came in, he said.
A spokesman for Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said the changes related to a small payment and high levels of bulk-billing in pathology services should remain.
The changes from July simply related to a small payment to pathology corporations. It was separate to the Medicare rebate for patients, which will not change, he said.
“We expect high levels of bulk-billing in pathology to remain, given significant competition between the major corporate players,” he said.
Criticising the changes, Denison Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said health would be a key priority for voters in the upcoming federal election.
“This is another so-called saving that will be especially unfair for Tasmanians because we have the worst health outcomes of any state and the highest reliance on Medicare,” Mr Wilkie said.