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Neil Forscutt’s letter (Co-payment is just plain extortion, NDL, Wednesday, August 27): While I understand his passion, it needs to be viewed in terms of taxpayers currently having to borrow $1 billion a month just to pay the interest on our national debt.
I can understand why some people are unhappy with the budget, but why did we get to this position?
If we don’t act now in five, 10 or 15 years, then the decisions we’ll have to make will be on which hospitals we can keep open, how we fund our defence forces, education facilities or the PBS or keep institutions like the ABC open.
In 2004 we were spending $8 billion on Medicare. Today the figure is $19 billion and, without change, it is projected to climb to $34 billion in 10 years’ time.
That is an 80 per cent increase and is simply unsustainable.
The Coalition wants to ensure health spending continues to grow, only at a more sustainable rate that strengthens and protects Medicare.
From 1 July next year, all patients will be asked to make a modest ($7) contribution to their own health care costs.
While the government will continue to subsidise a majority of the costs of Medicare services, the rebate for most GP and out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services will be reduced by $5.
Concession card holders, including self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Card, and children under 16, will be protected by a cap of 10 services in a calendar year.
After the patient contribution has been paid 10 times, the Medicare rebate will increase by $5 and the doctor will be paid an incentive if they provide the service to the concessional patient for free.
We need to live within our means as a nation so we can continue to care for all our citizens, from the elderly to the very young, in the years ahead.
Finally, I have to disagree with Mr Forscutt’s description of doctors who don’t bulk-bill as “greedy” and “indecent”.
This greatly insults the dedicated men and women who work hard every day to help us and to help our families when we need it most.
Barnaby Joyce MP
Federal Member for New
England