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Medicare safety net changes will hit the sickest and most disadvantaged

AMA President, Professor Brian Owler, said this week that the sickest and most disadvantaged Australians will be hit hardest by changes to Medicare Safety Net arrangements, which were introduced to Parliament by the Government on Wednesday.

Professor Owler said the AMA opposes the changes because they wind back financial assistance to patients for their out of hospital health care costs, with vulnerable patients to feel the most pain.

“The new Medicare Safety Net arrangements, together with the ongoing freeze of Medicare patient rebates, mean that growing out-of-pocket costs will become a reality for all Australian families, including the most vulnerable patients in our community,” Professor Owler said.

Full media release

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