AMA pressures Government over Medicare rebates
AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone tells SKY News that Medicare rebates are significantly out of touch and out of place with the cost of provision with new figures showing half of patients paid something from their own pockets toward their non-hospital Medicare services.
The interview followed the release last week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare of the MyHealthyCommunities: Patients’ out-of-pocket spending on Medicare Services 2016-17 report.
Dr Bartone noted the almost two and a half time differential between current rebates and what they would be if CPI increases had been applied since the introduction of Medicare rebates.
“This can’t continue”, he said.
“Together on behalf of patients, as well as ourselves we’re going to put that very clearly to the Government.
