Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In today's Midland Express there is an article titled 'Co-payment concern'. The Rural Doctors Association of Australia say the new Medicare $7 co-payment will turn doctors into tax collectors, increase red tape and see doctors called more frequently to their local hospitals to treat patients who cannot afford to pay it. The $7 co-payment will apply to GP visits not only in surgeries but also to after-hours and nursing home visits, out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services. This system is expected to be introduced on 1 July 2015 subject to passing this parliament.

This is a common problem in rural communities and many local health professionals in my electorate have also expressed their concern, including Dr Richard Bills of Brooke Street Medical Centre in Woodend. He has a number of issues with the government's proposals. He says:

The co-payment is not a genuine improvement in payments to GPs once you take the administration of it into account. It is likely to reduce the presentations of the most needy … both geographically and service-wise.

Reducing the Medicare rebate—a payment which is already funded through the Medicare levy—is likely to dramatically stress the provision of primary healthcare services in our local community.