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Labor launches Save Medicare Hotline
30 July 2003
The Labor Party has launched a Save Medicare hotline to allow people to reveal their experiences with the healthcare system.
The Opposition's health spokeswoman Julia Gillard launched the hotline at a community health forum in her electorate of Lalor.
Ms Gillard said: "Labor is establishing this hotline because under the Howard Government, Medicare is in crisis.
"Labor is the party that built Medicare and believes in Medicare. Under Labor, Medicare was not in crisis - it worked. In 1996, more than 80% of visits to the doctor cost patients nothing because the doctor bulk billed.
"John Howard, in contrast, has never believed in Medicare and his policies have put Medicare on the critical list.
"John Howard's policies mean it is getting harder and harder to see a doctor for free. Nationally, the rate of bulk billing by GPs has slumped by more than 12%.
"That means there are now 10 million fewer services each year being bulk billed by GPs than there were in 1996.
"To make matters worse, as bulk billing has fallen, the amount you have to pay to see a GP who doesn't bulk bill has skyrocketed by more than 55%.
"I am asking Australians to contact Labor's Save Medicare Hotline if they:
- Haven't been able to find a doctor who bulk bills and sees patients for free.
- Ended up not seeing a doctor because they couldn't afford to.
- Went to a doctor who allows patients paying extra to jump the queue.
- Went without something they really needed because they had to pay to see a doctor.
- Ended up in a hospital emergency department because they couldn't afford to see a doctor."
Labor's Save Medicare Hotline can be contacted by ringing 1800 006 269 or sending an email to save.medicare@alp.org.au
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