Really hope this medicare fee doesn't go ahead

[topsidesoul]

Something really wrong on paying a fee of  $5-$6 on something your taxes are suppose to have covered.

A so called tax on a tax or in the same stupid ideal as a carbon tax.

I understand with the population getting older  is a problem, but this is not the answer and will hurt those most in need.

I know of plenty of people who avoid the doctor because they simply cannot afford to get anything checked out that should be.

Where will those elderly or the poor  who need medical help go? Hospitals?

[windrake]

Something has to be done.

I heard last week on the Drum that the health system is close to collapse and costs have exploded.

To safeguard our health system I would be more than happy to contribute a nominal fee and 6 dollars is not a lot of money and pensioners and welfare recipients are exempt.

This co payment was flagged only after 6 or 12 visits so really nothing to worry about

If we want the services of a 1st class health system, 6 dollars is a paltry amount imo.

[freddie*rooster]

The Doctors chose the payment, most Doctors don't bulk bill.

[cherry*135]

The $6 fee is a start to a slippery slope downwards imo. Once it is implemented no problem to increase it.. $6, $10. $12 and on it goes.

We have a local medical Centre, not bulk billed. They do have an electronic connection to Medicare, they put the transaction through to get their medicare payment and then the customer pays the gap.

We also have 2 Bulk Bill clinics (free to anyone with a Medicare card) 10-15 mins away. 

The local medical centre had a wait of 2 weeks to get an appointment for quite a long time, which is why I started to go to a Bulk Bill clinic. Even if a person rings the local clinic and they have no appts they suggest the patient try a bulk bill clinic instead.

We live in an area with a large number of tourists, if they phone the local medical centre, they won't give them an appt.. only people who are on the books already.

[***super_nova***]

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@windrake wrote:

Something has to be done.

I heard last week on the Drum that the health system is close to collapse and costs have exploded.

To safeguard our health system I would be more than happy to contribute a nominal fee and 6 dollars is not a lot of money and pensioners and welfare recipients are exempt.

This co payment was flagged only after 6 or 12 visits so really nothing to worry about

If we want the services of a 1st class health system, 6 dollars is a paltry amount imo.

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It would make much more sense to just increase the medicare levy by little bit, people would hardly notice.  But this is just the first step towards user pay system.   According to some the Health System was always close to collapse ever since we got Medibank.

[*mrgrizz*]

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@freddie*rooster wrote:

The Doctors chose the payment, most Doctors don't bulk bill.

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exactly

[cherry*135]

i don't know about anywhere else but around where I live the Bulk Bill clinics are run by big corporations. 

A local medical centre with 4 or 5 Dr's who co-own  the centre.. probably couldn't make it profitable if they bulk billed.

The local centre usually has 2-3 staff behind the front counter, the bulk bill clinic has 1-2... the bulk bill clinic probably see 10 times more patients in a day (ours is open 8am - 10pm) than a  local Dr owned medical centre.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

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@windrake wrote:

Something has to be done.

I heard last week on the Drum that the health system is close to collapse and costs have exploded.

To safeguard our health system I would be more than happy to contribute a nominal fee and 6 dollars is not a lot of money and pensioners and welfare recipients are exempt.

This co payment was flagged only after 6 or 12 visits so really nothing to worry about

If we want the services of a 1st class health system, 6 dollars is a paltry amount imo.

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It would make much more sense to just increase the medicare levy by little bit, people would hardly notice.  But this is just the first step towards user pay system.   According to some the Health System was always close to collapse ever since we got Medibank.

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I read somewhere last night, that this (the cop[ayment) will bring in about 1/2 a billion a year.

They can't increase medicare - they need that for the NDIS - they will have to keep increasing medicare to pay for that, so they don't want to draw attention to that - much easier for something like this without an emotive angle to switch to a user pays system, cos as you've seen, those who already pay don't mind the extra few dollars and nor do those who don't go very often, so at least some people are happy this way, and they're not upsetting the tax payer too much (cos that's where the votes are remember)

they reckon though that by cutting the medication allowances, that this would save 1 1/2 billion a year. Stuff like push the "no name drugs rather than the branded ones (cheaper if you buy in greater bulk too) and give people a choice of IF they want to take preventative medicines, rather than just prescribe them (ie blood pressure tablets - i kid you not and some mental health drugs/anti anxiety/depression) but apparently, whilst a lot of people fill in their scripts for preventative medicine, lots don't continue to take them.

and make doctors more accountable for what they did prescribe and why, the corollary of that though is that doctors may then under prescribe, and get them to come back "in a few days if you're not better" thus increasing doctors visdits etc..

so from what I did read last night, it does seem that the copayment is the best way to go, that does seem to be the general consensus.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

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@freddie*rooster wrote:

The Doctors chose the payment, most Doctors don't bulk bill.

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exactly

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lots of the doctors down here are new doctors just starting their own practise, so they bulk bill to build up patients. Then eventually they start charging new ones a higher fee iykwim

[windrake]

I honestly don't know where the billions are going to come from for NDIS. Does anyone know?? What I don't understand is why couldn't the NDIS be under the medicare umberella & the medicare levy upped to pay for it or part pay for it.

I read somewhere it's going to cost 7 billion a year and rise every year, any body know? If the government has to come up with 7 billion a year for NDIS what other services are they going to have to cut to pay for it.

Then on top of that there's Gonski costing billions a year too.  Where's the money going to come from for these expenses when the financial climate is looking dark & jobs are being lost and  revenue is down.

[newstart2380]

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

i went to the doctor friday last week cost me $36.70.

where should i complain?

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You shouldn't, $5 is not a great amount and this country cannot keep borrowing money to prop up the people who think they should get everything for NOTHING.