BREAKING: Govt backflips on Medicare
UPDATED: The Federal Government will dump its controversial changes to the Medicare rebate.
After a minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the policy this morning, Health Minister Sussan Ley announced the plan to cut a Medicare rebate paid to GPs for short consultations will not go ahead on Monday as planned.
Ley said she was deeply concerned by misinformation that was causing confusion for patients and confusion for doctors about the changes.
“As a result, I’m announcing today that the changes to level A and B Medicare consultation items will not commence on Monday as planned,” she told reporters in Melbourne.
“The government is taking them off the table.”
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“I have heard, I have listened and I have decided to take this action now,” the minister said, after breaking her holiday to address the issue.
However, she insisted it remained critical that there should be reform to ensure the Medicare system has a sustainable future to give quality care.
The minister made a strong commitment to undertake a wide ranging consultation on the ground with doctors and the community to come up with sensible options.
“I need to explain … that our Medicare system is growing at a rapid and unsustainable rate.”
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Earlier, doctors had urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to return from his holiday to put an end the plan to cut by $20.10, from Monday, the rebate paid to GPs for consultations under 10 minutes.
“It was never a good idea, and Mr Abbott should take this opportunity to ditch it and instead consult with the medical profession on how to support quality primary healthcare,” AMA president Brian Owler said on Thursday.
But Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said the government would push on with the reform.
“We’ll persevere,” Billson told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
“This change is on the table. It is being implemented,” Billson said.
Asked to comment on Billson’s statement, Ley said there had been misunderstandings but Australians could expect the government to listen to their concerns.
“It’s off the table and I stand ready to engage, to consult, and to talk to the sector,” she said.
“It is important that doctors and their patients know that the changes that were talked about to come into effect on Monday will not.”
This article was first published as “Govt rejects last-minute Medicare lobbying”.
– with AAP
