Member for Shortland Pat Conroy has called on Minister for Health Greg Hunt to rethink Medicare changes that are causing some doctors to stop bulk-billing patients, leaving people out of pocket.
From this month, doctors who are not in “very remote or rural areas” are being paid $6.30 under Medicare to bulk-bill a patient, down from $9.50 previously.
This has led some doctors in Swansea and Belmont to announce they can no longer afford to bulk-bill some patients for some procedures.
“Several people have come to me very concerned that they will no longer be able to afford to go to the doctor because they will not be bulk-billed,” Mr Conroy said.
“These changes were designed to benefit rural and remote communities, but they are actually hurting communities such as ours with high rates of disadvantage and of unemployment.
“People who are pensioners should not need to count their pennies to see if they can go to the doctor.
“And if people can’t afford to go to the doctor, they present at emergency departments, putting more strain on our hospitals.
“Minister Hunt needs to look at the unintended consequences of this change and consider the impact on vulnerable people in disadvantaged communities.”