Media Release
Wednesday, 10 March 2004
MEDICARE MINUS: SHORT TERM GAIN AND LONG TERM PAIN FOR PATIENTS
“The package of measures the Howard Government has very reluctantly agreed to has some short term gains for our patients,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society
“But in the long term there is no change to the agenda,” said Dr Woodruff, “the agenda to change Medicare from a system of health care which sees all patients as deserving of the same quality of health care independent of their income, to one in which the credit card is needed for quality care, and for those without the credit, there is a saggy `safety net’”
“This so called `safety net’ is more a safety net for specialists incomes, a blank cheque for them to increase copayments from $50 to $150 without feeling bad, knowing that there is a limit to how much the patient will pay,” said Dr Woodruff. “Then the many patients who don’t get to the safety net will be faced with huge one off costs to keep them away from proper health care.”
“Some patients will be helped by the Dental Care Plan, some by the proposal to have allied health services for low income earners expanded, but it is still all about having a second rate service for those who can’t afford the best.”
“But in one or two years time, what will stop the Government continuing to push its agenda of murdering Medicare, of letting the value of the safety net and the rebate fall, of underfunding the allied health services?” asked Dr Woodruff. “They will argue they are too expensive, and will call for higher out of pocket costs, or simply reduce the services, just as they now argue about the PBS.”
“This Government did not want to give Australians any of the measures the Senate has forced on them. They will find a way out of their commitments when they can. These are definitely not core promises.”
Dr Con Costa
Vice President
Doctors Reform Society
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Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society
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Dr Tracy Schrader Vice President Doctors Reform Society
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For further information please contact the Doctors Reform Society during business hours
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