MEDICAL FEES – AUSTRALIA

Ley rules out bulk-billing means test

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 5-Mar-15

The Australian Government has decided not to introduce a $A5 GP co-payment. Health Minister Sussan Ley is now looking for other cost-cutting options, although she has ruled out the means-testing of bulk-billing. The matter will be discussed at a meeting of Ley and Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Medicare rebate freeze to stay

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 4-Mar-15

Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler has backed the Federal Government’s decision to abandon its proposed Medicare co-payment. However, he says the decision to leave the Medicare rebate at its current level until 2018 should also be scrapped, arguing that it will reduce GPs’ income. Health Minister Susan Ley says the rebate freeze will also be reviewed, and has stressed the need for policies that help the Government to balance the Budget

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Upfront payments for doctors

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Mar-15

The Australian Government is considering major changes to the Medicare system, and has widespread support among GPs for the proposed reforms. The key change under consideration is a shift to a system whereby GPs are paid an annual lump sum in advance to treat patients such as the chronically ill. This would allow the Government to abandon its controversial co-payment scheme. However, the Medicare rebate will remain at its current level until 2018

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, McKINSEY AND COMPANY

Co-payment faces battle in Senate

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 13-Aug-14

The Palmer United Party continues to oppose the Australian Government’s $A7 Medicare co-payment. However, Health Minister Peter Dutton says the current bulk-billing rate of 83 per cent is unsustainable and needs to be addressed. He has also foreshadowed exempting more people from the co-payment. Meanwhile, Treasurer Joe Hockey has urged the Senate to support the proposed reintroduction of fuel indexation

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL COMMISSION OF AUDIT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

AMA demand could cost $2b

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Original article by Joanna Heath, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Aug-14

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has proposed a compromise regarding the Federal Government’s Medicare co-payment. The AMA wants pensioners to be excluded from the $A7 co-payment regime, while it continues to oppose the Government’s plan to reduce the Medicare rebate for GPs. The Government’s May 2014 Budget forecast that these measures would result in cost savings of about $A3.5bn, but this would be slashed by up to $A2bn if it agrees to the AMA’s proposals

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

GPs may charge higher co-payment

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 30-Jul-14

Stephen Duckett of the Grattan Institute says the cost of visting a GP is a deterrent for many Australians on low incomes. There are concerns that more low-income earners will avoid visiting GPs if the Federal Government’s $A7 co-payment is introduced. Richard Bartlett of the Department of Health has conceded that GPs will be able to charge a higher co-payment. He also says the fee should have no impact on the provision of medical services

CORPORATES
GRATTAN INSTITUTE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED