Labor to unveil $12b Medicare rebate freeze rollback
By political reporter Caitlyn Gribbin

ABC News  May 19 2016

The Federal Opposition will today make the first big-ticket promise of the election campaign and vow to spend $12 billion over a decade to unwind the controversial freeze on Medicare rebates the Government pays doctors for services.   
Key points:

    Labor plans to reverse its 2013 decision to freeze Medicare rebates
    GPs say continuation of freeze will 'starve them of funds' needed to care for patients
    Coalition says freeze will continue until 2019-20 under its government
    Head to Australia Votes for more election coverage

In 2013, the then Labor government capped the amount of money it paid doctors who provided services under Medicare, and the current Coalition Government has followed suit.

That decision enraged GPs who said they were being starved of funds they needed to provide quality care.

In this month's budget Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the freeze on indexation for Medicare rebates would continue until the 2019-20 financial year.

That is estimated to save the Government $925 million over the four-year forward estimates.

But despite the freeze on the rebate, bulk billing rates have continued to grow and are at a high of 84 per cent.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will announce a Labor government would reverse the freeze of Medicare rebates from the start of 2017 and shell out an additional $12 billion over the next 10 years for doctors.

Usually, the Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate is indexed and increases a small amount each year.
Proposal 'fully funded', Labor says

Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler said doctors were worried a continuation of the freeze would discourage doctors to bulk bill.   

"That really angered many people and again it's reignited anger amongst, particularly, general practitioners," Professor Owler said.

"The reality is that lifting the freeze is a very big deal [not just] for general practice, but for all doctors and particularly their patients."

Labor's plan would cost $2.4 billion over the next four years and apply to all services provided by GPs, allied health and other medical specialists — but not pathology and diagnostic imaging.

Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said the policy would be paid for through savings.

"We've fully funded our proposal from existing revenue measures including not proceeding with the tax cuts for multinational companies," she said.   

Ms King denied Labor was to blame for the freeze being introduced in the first place, despite the 2013 decision.

"This is entirely Malcolm Turnbull's work and we will stop it," she said.

Thank goodness for the doctors opposition to the draconian cuts by the arshole libs so they can give tax breaks to their big end donors. Just hope the general public see it and vote accordingly.

In 2013, the then Labor government capped the amount of money it paid doctors who provided services under Medicare, and the current Coalition Government has followed suit.


shortarse is saying they got it wrong???>..

funny how he is now playing up to the BIG end of town....

is he saying doctors are not rich enough.....

lets give em more.....

what the?..

oh thats right Bills found the money tree....

he does realise our healthy system is the fastest growing industry at the moment doesnt he...

If we can fund 200 billion in military funding, we can fund Medicare.

It is widely predicted that if Billy Boy teamed up with the noxious Greenies to form the worst ever "govt" in Australia's history he would increase the debt to at least $1 trillion in just the first year.

None of Billy's "promises" are funded and the Greenies would be in charge so export earning industries in Australia would be closed down at a record rate and so the ONLY source of finance is BORROWING MORE and MORE and MORE!!!

People on Welfare, including the torrent of 50,000 illegals to be brought in by the Greenies who go straight onto Welfare for Life, will dramatically increase which will increase the welfare bill to stratospheric levels.

How long before Australia loses its AAA credit rating and defaults on its debt repayments ?

And the Greenies want to turn our kiddies into queers by polluting the education system.

Australians awake to the extreme danger facing your Australia from the Socialists!!!

Well done Bill and Co, and to Sir Crook for bringing it to our attention.

Good news for medicare.  It needed this injection of money for a long time now.   Do not forget, it is not only the doctors that had their incomes cut / frozen.   This freeze also applies to staffs who works for clinics - e.g. practice nurses, receptionists, technicians, etc etc.   Not to mention, utility bills and rents do not freeze either.   The goal of the freeze was to squeeze GP into more profit driven model - e.g. gap fee etc.   And those who suffers the most would be the seriously unwell and disabled.  The usual target for the LNP it seems these days. 

And yet, on the other hand, the negative gearing is a golden egg not to be touched.