Media Release
20 January 2004
“Medicare Plus is designed to kill off bulk billing”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society. “It means most of our patients will not be bulk billed because they are not pensioners and cared holders. It means that many pensioners and health care card holders will not be bulk billed”.
“And for those who are bulb billed it means they will be seen as second class citizens, not able to pay their way to decent health care, relying on doctors’ charity,” said Dr Woodruff.
“We will then have a two tiered system, a charity system for some elderly and kids, receiving second class care and turnstile medicine as befits charity cases, and a pay as you go system for the rest, with a saggy inadequate safety net which will fail to catch the many who will struggle to afford the bills.”
The DRS today supported the call by Professor John Dwyer of the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance, for the rejection of the Government’s Medicare Plus package.
“This is another step down the road to a US style health system, it is Medicare Minus, Medicare minus the care,” said Dr Woodruff.
Dr Con Costa
Vice President
Doctors Reform Society
|
Dr Tim Woodruff
President
Doctors Reform Society
|
Dr Tracy Schrader Vice President Doctors Reform Society
|
For further information please contact the Doctors Reform Society during business hours
Back to Media Releases
[
Doctors Reform Society of Australia home page]
[
About DRS ] [
Search ] [
What's New ]
[
Policies ] [
Media Releases ] [
Published Letters ]
[
Online articles ]
[
New Doctor: Journal of the DRS ]
[
Discussion Board ] [
Contacting DRS ] [
Joining DRS ] [
Links ]