Medicare rebate cut by $20/$25 - $37.05 to $16.95 then $11.95 for < 10 min consult
Information from AMA : -
"From 19 January 2015, the Government has cut Medicare rebates by $20 for GP consultations that take less than 10 minutes.
Today, the standard GP consultation has a Medicare rebate of $37.05. More than 25% of these consultations last less than 10 minutes. The Government will reduce the rebates for these services to $16.95 by restricting:
Level A consultations (MBS item 3) to consultations lasting less than 10 minutes; and
Level B consultations (MBS item 23) to consultations that last between 10 and 20 minutes.
This measure alone will take at least $500 million out of general practice in 2015".
https://ama.com.au/article/medicare-funding-cuts-support-materials-practices
The following is a doctor's perspective of the cuts (from Twitter).
She said that "We as the GPs of Australia just wanted to get the ramifications of the changes out there"
Dr Michelle Vollmerhause
January 2 at 5:29pm
I've found that a lot of people haven't really understood the implications of the Australian government's recent Medicare changes, so here's my summary. (GP changes)
There are 3 major changes:
1) From 19th January 2015, the rebate for consultations under 10 minutes will be cut by 55% from $37.05 to $16.95 for all patients, including pensioners. This will affect consultations for things like dressings, prescription renewals, ear infections, and immunisations. This is supposed to cover all practice costs (receptionists' and nurses' wages, rent, electricity, medical supplies, cleaning, insurances etc). For many GP's, the rebate will no longer cover the cost of providing that service, and bulk-billing will become a loss-making exercise.
2) From 1st July 2015, the Abbott government plans to cut the Medicare rebate for all consultations (other than children and pensioners) by a further $5. This $5 cut to Medicare is not a cut to the GP's salary. It's a cut to YOUR rebate. Medicare is YOUR insurance.
If your GP currently charges you $75 for a standard visit, you get $37.05 back from Medicare (you pay the $37.95 difference). From July 1st, 2015, the government will drop this rebate to only $32.05 for 10-19 minute consultations (you will then pay $42.95 difference). The rebate will drop from $37.05 to just $11.95 for <10 minute consultations (you will then pay $63.05). You lose money, not your doctor - ignore the spin.
3) Since 2012, Medicare rebates have not been indexed other than one rise of 2%. It is planned that there will be no further indexation until after 2018. The cost of providing medical care keeps rising faster than inflation. This means your out-of-pocket medical expenses will keep rising.
Not happy with that? Let your local MP know.
If the public/government does not think that this will effect children under 16 and pensioners they are crazy. These two groups will bear the brunt of these changes with much higher out of pocket expenses come 19/01/2015 as more and more GPs will drop bulk billing these two groups Your GPs have been telling the government this They are not listening- may be they will listen to their voting public.
Information from AMA : -
"From 19 January 2015, the Government has cut Medicare rebates by $20 for GP consultations that take less than 10 minutes.
Today, the standard GP consultation has a Medicare rebate of $37.05. More than 25% of these consultations last less than 10 minutes. The Government will reduce the rebates for these services to $16.95 by restricting:
Level A consultations (MBS item 3) to consultations lasting less than 10 minutes; and
Level B consultations (MBS item 23) to consultations that last between 10 and 20 minutes.
This measure alone will take at least $500 million out of general practice in 2015".
https://ama.com.au/article/medicare-funding-cuts-support-materials-practices
The following is a doctor's perspective of the cuts (from Twitter).
She said that "We as the GPs of Australia just wanted to get the ramifications of the changes out there"
Dr Michelle Vollmerhause
January 2 at 5:29pm
I've found that a lot of people haven't really understood the implications of the Australian government's recent Medicare changes, so here's my summary. (GP changes)
There are 3 major changes:
1) From 19th January 2015, the rebate for consultations under 10 minutes will be cut by 55% from $37.05 to $16.95 for all patients, including pensioners. This will affect consultations for things like dressings, prescription renewals, ear infections, and immunisations. This is supposed to cover all practice costs (receptionists' and nurses' wages, rent, electricity, medical supplies, cleaning, insurances etc). For many GP's, the rebate will no longer cover the cost of providing that service, and bulk-billing will become a loss-making exercise.
2) From 1st July 2015, the Abbott government plans to cut the Medicare rebate for all consultations (other than children and pensioners) by a further $5. This $5 cut to Medicare is not a cut to the GP's salary. It's a cut to YOUR rebate. Medicare is YOUR insurance.
If your GP currently charges you $75 for a standard visit, you get $37.05 back from Medicare (you pay the $37.95 difference). From July 1st, 2015, the government will drop this rebate to only $32.05 for 10-19 minute consultations (you will then pay $42.95 difference). The rebate will drop from $37.05 to just $11.95 for <10 minute consultations (you will then pay $63.05). You lose money, not your doctor - ignore the spin.
3) Since 2012, Medicare rebates have not been indexed other than one rise of 2%. It is planned that there will be no further indexation until after 2018. The cost of providing medical care keeps rising faster than inflation. This means your out-of-pocket medical expenses will keep rising.
Not happy with that? Let your local MP know.
If the public/government does not think that this will effect children under 16 and pensioners they are crazy. These two groups will bear the brunt of these changes with much higher out of pocket expenses come 19/01/2015 as more and more GPs will drop bulk billing these two groups Your GPs have been telling the government this They are not listening- may be they will listen to their voting public.
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