Fed: Patterson admits open slather for GPs - Labor
CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - Health Minister Kay Patterson admits there will be no controlover the fees that doctors can charge their patients when changes are made to Medicaretoday, Labor said.
Prime Minister John Howard is today expected to detail almost $1 billion in Medicarespending on enticing general practitioners to bulk-bill and addressing a national shortageof doctors.
Senator Patterson said half the money would be spent over four years on incentivesfor bulk-billing for low-income earners and the rest on increasing the number of doctorsin training.
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Smith said Senator Patterson had confirmed doctorswould be able to charge patients a co-payment as well as billing Medicare directly.
This meant Australian families would pay more for a visit to the doctor.
Mr Smith said the admission confirmed what the Australian Medical Association (AMA)told its members on March 28, that, in return for agreeing to bulk-bill pensioners andthe poor, the government would allow doctors to charge their other patients uncapped co-payments.
"The government's proposals give doctors the green light to charge higher fees," Mr Smith said.
"Millions of Australians who do not have Pensioner Concession Cards or Health CareCards will be asked to pay more when they visit their GP."
Labor and the Australian Democrats are poised to block in the Senate any added financialburden that might flow to middle Australia.
Senator Patterson said doctors who agreed to bulk-bill visits by concession card-holderswould be able to directly charge Medicare for the $25 standard consultation fee, leavingthe patient only to pay up-front for the gap.
Families would also be able to use their private health insurance to cover gap paymentsfor a range of medical services exceeding $1,000 over a year, she said.
Gap insurance would add about $50 a year to a family's premium.
AAP dep/sco/jlw
KEYWORD: MEDICARE DAYLEAD
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