The Doctors Reform Society today warned patients that the proposed deal between the Government and the AMA to cover gap payments is nothing more than a confidence trick.

" The Federal Government and the AMA have no power to control doctors fees. The proposed new gap insurance to cover up to 100% of the AMA fee is no guarantee that doctors won’t charge more than the AMA recommended fee, as they do now" said Dr Con Costa, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

" The Federal Government and the AMA appear to be trying to prop up the inefficient failing private health insurance industry that accounts for only 10% of health expenditure while Medicare and public hospitals are starved of funds" said Dr Costa.

" This new confidence trick on top of the nasty scare tactics of the proposed changes to community rating shows how desperate the Government is to force people to take out private health insurance" said Dr Costa.

" Surely it would be better to let private insurers enjoy boutique, luxurious conditions and the Government properly fund Medicare and the public hospitals so that the majority of us have access to decent, solid and hassle free health care" said Dr Costa.

" As doctors, we warn patients that if they take out private health insurance on the basis of the proposed promises to cover the gap, then they may be exposing themselves to further gap costs" said Dr Costa.

17 May, 1999

Con Costa