By political reporter Jane Norman Friday 16 January 2015
Video: I don't want to be at war with doctors: Ley (ABC News)
Photo: Sussan Ley says the Government remains committed to a GP co-payment. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)
Related Story: Government scraps proposed Medicare rebate changes
Related Story: Abbott dumps GP co-payment in favour of 'optional' $5 doctor fee
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley suggests there could be further changes to the Government's proposed GP co-payment, a day after dumping a contentious plan to cut Medicare rebates for short doctor visits.
The rebate for GP consultations lasting less than 10 minutes was due to be slashed by around $20 from Monday, but after a fierce political backlash and campaign by doctors, Ms Ley yesterday announced the changes would not go ahead.
The new Health Minister said she would now undertake "wide-ranging" consultation with doctors and the community across the country to come with "sensible options" for Medicare reform.
But she said the Government remained committed to a GP co-payment as a price signal in the health system.
"It is still Government policy, but that doesn't mean I'm not keen to hear people's views about it," she told ABC News Breakfast.
"Broadly there actually is support for a co-payment measure.
Why changes had to be scrapped
Sophie Scott looks at why the changes to the Medicare rebates for short GP consultations had to go.
"I will be working with them in how we refine perhaps the details of the co-payment, but the principle of the co-payment is sound and it's one I think that will be supported across the board."
Under the revised co-payment plan announced in December, doctors would be encouraged to charge most adults patients a $5 fee for each consultation.
Ms Ley is due to meet peak medical groups in Canberra next week, and told Channel Seven she had also started making appointments with the crossbench.
"You realise they may have different philosophies but when it comes to health, there is a lot of common ground," she said.
"I don't want to be at war with the crossbench, I don't want to be at war with doctors."
We opened this story for your comments about Medicare rebate cuts and this is what you told us.
GP co-payment needs to be considered 'in context'
Rural Doctors Association president Dennis Pashen said he hoped they could find common ground within months.
"I think you can come to some fairly sensible decisions in three months, let alone six months," he said.
"So it depends whether people work together or not, or whether they start to have factitious discussions and angst brought into the situation.
"I don't think it's a time for political dogma, I think it's a time for sensible decisions and good policy."
Dr Pashen said he was not opposed to the principle of a co-payment, but said the policy needed to be considered alongside other measures.
Abbott in trouble for Medicare fumble
The Government's back down over the Medicare rebate is evidence of decision-making that is as chaotic as it is confusing, and does not augur well for a Prime Minister who continues to fumble, writes Norman Abjorensen.
"I'm prepared to look at it but it's got to be in a context," he said.
"A co-payment by itself may or may not be a good idea, but it's the stuff around it that actually makes it.
"It's the whole package you have to look at when you're dealing with these kinds of issues."
Independent senator Nick Xenophon said he hoped Thursday's back down would signal a new direction for the Government's health policy.
"There are savings to be made, efficiencies to be gained in a way that doesn't compromise patient care," he said.
"And doctors who are at the front line of our health system are very much willing to be part of the solution, whereas the Government's been treating them as part of the problem to date."
Labor and the Greens remain strongly opposed to the proposed GP co-payment, with Greens leader Christine Milne declaring the fight was far from over.
From other news sites:
- The Sydney Morning Herald Thu at 1:07pmThu 15 Jan 2015, 1:07pm Health Minister Sussan Ley backs away from plan to cut Medicare rebate
- News.com.au Timeline of a back down: A year of debate on the GP co-payment
- Sky News about 7 hours ago Fri 16 Jan 2015, 10:43am Govt committed to GP co-payment
- The Border Mail about 11 hours ago Fri 16 Jan 2015, 7:22am Sussan Ley makes first mark with flip on Medicare rebate
- The Australian Thu at 12:53pmThu 15 Jan 2015, 12:53pm Government abandons plan to cut Medicare rebate for short GP visits
