More Tinkering with Medicare

Another change is being made to Medicare with the announcement by the Federal Government that the bulk-billing incentive payment will be extended to include some outer metropolitan areas.

From September 1, doctors in outer-metropolitan areas with below average bulk-billing rates and below average doctor-to-population ratios will be eligible for an extra $7.50 for bulk billing Commonwealth concession card holders and children under 16 years of age.

GPs practicing in Darwin and Townsville will also be eligible for the higher Medicare rebate.

The move is the latest adjustment to the government's Medicare package which has been a work in progress for over 12 months.

On May 1 the Government increased the bulk-billing incentive to $7.50 in country areas and Tasmania.

HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said that while the extra spending was welcomed, the change was a further indication that the government's Medicare package had been poorly developed and had to be repeatedly modified.

"Its a bit here and a bit there and there is obviously a connection between the areas and the marginal seats which will be contested at the election," he said.

"What is needed is a strong Medicare system which not only gives all Australians the opportunity to see a bulk-billing doctor but does something about the under-funding of our public hospitals."

The extension of the $7.50 bulk-billing incentive applies to:

• Outer suburban and semi- rural areas that are identified by the Department of Health and Ageing as areas of workforce shortage with lower bulk billing rates in the first quarter of 2004.

• Greater Townsville and Darwin because they are isolated cities.

• ACT and Queanbeyan, which have chronic workforce shortage problems.

For all other areas, bulkbilled services to card holders and children will continue to attract the standard $5 incentive payment.

In the areas listed below, GPs will receive $33.20 instead of $25.70 for a bulk billed standard consultation with a concession card holder or child under 16. A typical GP in a qualifying area stands to gain around $21, 500 a year through this measure.

List of Qualifying Areas

1. Australian Capital Territory
2. Beaudesert Shire Part A, QLD*
3. Darwin City, NT*
4. East Metropolitan (Perth), WA*
5. Eastern Outer Melbourne, VIC*
6. Frankston City, VIC*
7. Gosford-Wyong, NSW*
8. Greater Geelong City Part A, VIC*
9. Greater Townsville (Townsville City, Thuringowa,
Magnetic Island and Palm Island)
10. Ipswich City, QLD*
11. Litchfield Shire, NT*
12. Melton-Wyndam, VIC*
13. Mornington Peninsula Shire, VIC*
14. Newcastle, NSW*
15. Palmerston-East Arm, NT*
16. Pine Rivers Shire, QLD*
17. Queanbeyan, NSW*
18. Southern Adelaide, SA*
19. South Eastern Outer Melbourne, VIC*
20. South West Metropolitan (Perth), WA*
21. Yarra Ranges Shire Part A, VIC*

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:26 EST