Attack on Australia’s universal healthcare system must be blocked, says TasCOSS

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service says the $7 GP co-payment introduced in the Federal Budget is an assault on Australia’s universal healthcare system and must be opposed by Tasmania’s senators.

TasCOSS joined with the reconvened Tasmanian Medicare Action Group to present a policy forum on the $7 GP co-payment in Hobart today.

Canberra-based health policy expert Jennifer Doggett spoke at today’s forum.

“The Government’s Budget measures have the potential to undermine the fairness and efficiency of Medicare so we will all end up paying more for less,” said Ms Doggett, who is a fellow of the Centre for Policy Research and a regular writer for the Croakey health blog.

“If we care about the future of Australia’s universal health system we need to act now to stop these changes causing long-term damage,” Ms Doggett said.

TasCOSS Social Policy and Research Manager Meg Webb said the $7 co-payment would set up a new barrier to Tasmanians seeking primary, preventative healthcare.

“Tasmanians on low incomes are already forgoing GP visits and not getting prescriptions filled because their money needs to be spent on even more basic requirements than health,” Meg Webb said.

“Any moves toward the creation of a two-tiered health system that worsens Tasmania’s already poor health outcomes must be avoided,” Ms Webb said.

“That is why TasCOSS is lobbying Tasmanian senators to oppose the Budget measures that erode Medicare,” Ms Webb said.

Research by Anglicare Tasmania in 2011 found people on low incomes already self-ration their medical spending when faced with more pressing needs such as paying the rent or power bill, buying food and debt repayment.

The 2013 State Government Health Indicators report found 16 per cent of low-income Tasmanians have difficulty accessing GPs, with cost one of the key barriers.

In the period 2009-2011, an estimated 13,000 Tasmanians in the lowest income range ended up having to be treated in hospital for conditions that could have been addressed at the primary care level, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Federal Budget health measures that will have a negative impact on Tasmania’s health outcomes include:

• A $7 co-payment for basic Medicare services, including GP visits, pathology tests and medical imaging. The cost will apply to people on low incomes for the first 10 visits of the year. A low-income family of four would have to make 40 GP visits a year before they reached the safety net threshold to receive a refund of the co-payments.

• From July 2015, doctors will no longer receive a $6 incentive to bulk-bill patients; if they opt to bulk-bill, they will get $11 less per consultation than they do now (due to the loss of the incentive and a $5 reduction in the Medicare rebate).

• Increase in co-payment for prescriptions for concession card holders from $6.10 to $6.90.

• The deferral of the National Partnership Agreement for public dental services, which will mean $390 million less over four years for dental reforms.

• The cessation of the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health, which will mean $368 million less over four years for preventive health measures.

• Removal of restrictions on charging by hospital Emergency Departments for presentations a GP could have dealt with.

• The Federal Government plan to cut $80 billion in education and hospital funding from the states over 10 years.

TasCOSS is the peak body for the Tasmanian community services sector.
TasCOSS