Bulk billing is dead. Not a good time to be in Australia if you are sick

[Parley]

Hi parley a question for you, what are your thoughts on entitlement to any amount of pension or CHC if you have worked all your life paid taxes and not needed any welfare payments?

 

Not sure what CHCmeans (concession health card?).

 

Generally I think welfare support must exist as a safety net for those who need it. I would restrict it to people who live in the country personally. My mum gets a UK age pension even though she hasn't lived there for nearly 40 years which is a bit odd.

 

So yes absolutely we need age pensions and health concessions for those who need them to survive.

 

I think there is too much welfare for people who don't need it and are on quite high incomes.

I'm not in favour of parental paid leave being paid to high earning people.

 

We need to help look after those who need help. That doesn't mean everything needs to be free though.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

EMBARRASSING bloopers by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey have revealed they don’t understand who will be forced to pay their controversial new $7 GP fee.

 

 

And their mistakes have undermined the government’s attempt to sell a tough budget to angry voters.

 

 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Melbourne radio listeners yesterday an average person would only have to pay the $7 GP fee ten times and then they would be bulk billed.

 

 

In fact the government has put no limit on the number of times an ordinary worker will pay the $7 charge, however, there is a ten visit safety net just for pensioners and children.

 

 

Radio 3AW host Neil Mitchell asked the Prime Minister yesterday: “If I am the average person going along to the doctor what is the safety net on the $7 co-payment?”

 

 

The Prime Minister replied :”Well, it is 10 visits and then the standard bulk-billing arrangements will apply.”

 

 

Mr Abbott’s office amended his statement late yesterday. “The safety net of ten visits applies to concession card holders and people aged under 16”, it said.

 

 

The Australian Medical Association accused Treasurer Joe Hockey of also getting it wrong when he says the chronically ill won’t be hit by the $7 GP fee.

 

 

The Treasurer told Korey Gunnis who suffers from eight chronic illnesses on Monday: “You wouldn’t be hit by the so-called Medicare co-payment. You wouldn’t be affected.”

 

 

Mr Hockey, on the ABC’s Q&A program, went on to say: “No, you wouldn’t, because you’d be on a care plan with your doctor. Obviously you’ve got a number of chronic diseases. In that situation you are not affected by the co-payment,”

 

 

 

While it is true that Medicare’s chronic disease management item will be exempt from the $7 GP fee, this is only for one doctors visit a year where the GP plans the patients care for their chronic illnesses.

 

 

Australian Medical Association GP spokesman Dr Brian Morton says every other visit the patient with a chronic illness makes to the GP or medical test that is ordered would be hit by a $7 GP fee.

 

 

“He either doesn’t understand or is misusing the statistic or is lying,” Dr Morton told News Corporation.

 

 

“The chronic disease management items are one off, they are not for treatment,” he said.

 

 

A diabetic patient would have to see their GP every three months and pay the $7 fee and regular tests of their blood sugar levels and kidney function would also attract a $7 charge, Dr Morton said.

 

 

A spokeswoman for Mr Hockey said yesterday “his comments stand”.

 

 

When asked whether the government would be introducing new chronic disease treatment items exempt from the $7 charge she said “the legislation was still being drafted…I can’t give any detail”.

 

 

The budget makes no provision for such a chronic disease item nor does it provide any funding for it.

 

 

In further confusing signals from the government, Liberal National Party backbencher Steve Ciobo also told ABC radio listeners ‘if they have a chronic disease they are exempt from making the co-payment”.

 

 

A spokesman for Health Minister Peter Dutton conceded the chronically ill could face the $7 GP fee.

 

 

“They could, it’s up to the doctor,” he said.

 

 

And he confirmed the exemption for chronic disease applied only to the preparation of a GP management plan or the preparation of a team care arrangement.

 

 

Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King described Mr Ciobo’s and Mr Hockey’s claims on the copayment and chronic illness as a “lie”.

 

 

“This is a blatant lie. If you have a chronic disease you are not exempt from the this cruel GP tax,” Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King said.

 

 

The Australian Medical Association says it will be asking Health Minister Mr Peter Dutton to modify the $7 GP fee when it meets him on Friday at its annual conference.

 

 

AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton said the government needed to look at extending the 10 visit safety net to low income people with a chronic illness, and end of life care.

 

 

Vaccinations should not attract the $7 fee, he said.

http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/who-pays-the-7-gp-fee-the-prime-minister-and-the-treasurer-dont-understand-their-own-policy/story-fnjpvlcp-1226926619628

[fairystar32]

does anyone know if the $7 fee applies to the hospital public specialists?

If your under the hospital and have regular bloods, scans and visits in the actual hospital as a public patient?

I do not know what a health care plan is, but I am under the specalist and will be for a very very long time with frequent bloods, scans and check ups..

[Harpodom]

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Melbourne radio listeners yesterday an average person would only have to pay the $7 GP fee ten times and then they would be bulk billed. In fact the government has put no limit on the number of times an ordinary worker will pay the $7 charge, however, there is a ten visit safety net just for pensioners and children. Radio 3AW host Neil Mitchell asked the Prime Minister yesterday: “If I am the average person going along to the doctor what is the safety net on the $7 co-payment?” The Prime Minister replied :”Well, it is 10 visits and then the standard bulk-billing arrangements will apply.” Mr Abbott’s office amended his statement late yesterday. “The safety net of ten visits applies to concession card holders and people aged under 16”, it said. - See more at: http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/health/211795-bulk-billing-dead-not-good-time-australia-if-you-sick-43.html#post1936519508

He's a bloody embarrassment. He has the intellectual capacity of a gnat with Alzheimers.

 

Too busy doing triathlons to worry about getting his facts straight.

[Tina2]

does anyone know if the $7 fee applies to the hospital public specialists?

If your under the hospital and have regular bloods, scans and visits in the actual hospital as a public patient?

I do not know what a health care plan is, but I am under the specalist and will be for a very very long time with frequent bloods, scans and check ups..

 

Interesting question, because as public hospitals you would think in the same state what one does the rest also do, not true. Spoke to my local hospital yesterday and they will be charging the $7 for everything, bloods, xrays, gp visits ( they have a gp clinic at the hospital which up to now is bulk billed) Then I rang the hospital of our nearest town some 90 km away but still in the same state and was told no we doubt you will have to pay the $7. Dont think any one really knows what the hell is going to happen. i know I have a cronic illness and am not on a health care card so use the bulk bill GP clinic at the hospital and this $7 is really going to hurt us

[Harpodom]

does anyone know if the $7 fee applies to the hospital public specialists?

If your under the hospital and have regular bloods, scans and visits in the actual hospital as a public patient?

I do not know what a health care plan is, but I am under the specalist and will be for a very very long time with frequent bloods, scans and check ups..

I'm not sure re the specialist but all pathology/imaging centres, whether hospital based or not, are private entities and therefore the co-payment would still apply.

[Tina2]

I'm not sure re the specialist but all pathology/imaging centres, whether hospital based or not, are private entities and therefore the co-payment would still apply.

Health care is becoming a luxury and that is really wrong. because of all the asthma medication my grandson (6) has to take it has effected his teeth and he needs 6 filling. Cost $1500 !!!! Becasue they will need to knock him out for a while as he would never sit still for all the needles etc. Going to have to look into the wait list for the public system, guess by the time we get to see a dentist all his baby teeth will have fallen out LOL

[Harpodom]

Health care is becoming a luxury and that is really wrong. because of all the asthma medication my grandson (6) has to take it has effected his teeth and he needs 6 filling. Cost $1500 !!!! Becasue they will need to knock him out for a while as he would never sit still for all the needles etc. Going to have to look into the wait list for the public system, guess by the time we get to see a dentist all his baby teeth will have fallen out LOL

Yeah, dental provision in Australia is woeful, especially for the poor, who have ridiculous waits for community based dental services. It is ironic that Australians like to take the pi$$ out of pommies' teeth, when so many Australians have such shocking dentition.

 

From memory, ALP were going to introduce a dental service for kids (along similar lines to the previous dental EPC program) to start this year, but surprise surprise, the nasty party binned the idea.

[Tina2]

There is some financial help for dental for kids for single parents similar to medicare BUT some pediatric dentists wont accept that they want full payment from the parents . Bit like some doctors wont bulk bill.

[Xenon4017]

There is some financial help for dental for kids for single parents similar to medicare BUT some pediatric dentists wont accept that they want full payment from the parents . Bit like some doctors wont bulk bill.

 

Do you think doctors and dentists are within their rights to do that, or do you think they should be obliged to work for the Medicare standard tariff?

[Tina2]

Do you think doctors and dentists are within their rights to do that, or do you think they should be obliged to work for the Medicare standard tariff?

I would like to see a "quota" that doctors and dentist are required to see a set number of patients each year under the medicare / dental care type plan. Even if it was just 10 patients a month after that 10 in the month then they have the right to say no . Just think how that would get the public wait lists numbers down.

[fairystar32]

yikes. I have a super rare issue, so much so, that I am my Dr's only patient with my type in the largest teaching hospitals so I am kept a close eye on if i like it or not, as well as causing other issues and having to see other people now and again, I have to be monitored, this will end up being unaffordable, expecailly when we will loose the FTB. We are one wage and youngest is 6.

 

I'm not sure re the specialist but all pathology/imaging centres, whether hospital based or not, are private entities and therefore the co-payment would still apply.

Edited May 22, 2014 by fairystar32

[Tina2]

yikes. I have a super rare issue, so much so, that I am my Dr's only patient with my type in the largest teaching hospital in Brisbane, so I am kept a close eye on if i like it or not, as well as causing other issues and having to see other people now and again, I have to be monitored, this will end up being unaffordable, expecailly when we will loose the FTB. We are one wage and youngest is 6.

Yep this budget is crule simple as that. To cut FTB at 6 is very unfair as you cant legally leave the child on there own and many cant afford before and after school care. Be fair make it 12 then people can get back to work as at that age the child can get themselves to and from school.

[Paul1Perth]

yikes. I have a super rare issue, so much so, that I am my Dr's only patient with my type in the largest teaching hospital in Brisbane, so I am kept a close eye on if i like it or not, as well as causing other issues and having to see other people now and again, I have to be monitored, this will end up being unaffordable, expecailly when we will loose the FTB. We are one wage and youngest is 6.

 

Hope they see reason and something is put in place for people who have to go regularly and can't get round it. Surely they will have to?:mad:

[fairystar32]

Yes, I have always planned to go back to work, didnt plan to get sick!

I have always worked in the UK around the kids but comming here, youngest was 9 mths and I stayed home. Hubby has to work on call, some weekends and overtime and sometimes go away, so working is hard. I also have 4 kids, eldest at uni, so inbetween no family to help, frequent hospital trips, running kids around like a taxi, unsure how to fit a job in with the kids.

 

We will now have to move to the local school to save fuel costs (it has taken him 10mths to settle at school, but we moved a yr ago and school is 40 mins away)

We will also have to cut costs, we have no savings as it is. Hubby is paid reasonably well but with 4 kids, mortgage, bills and fuel and food costs ( we try to eat organic due to health reasons and my higher risk of malignancy, but that will no longer be an option now)

 

I have actually had my CV up online in various places and in the 4 big companies for 18 mths now, but hours I can actually do, make it impossible. I didnt even get a checkut operator for 4hr shift interview, yet was a supervisor in 2 shops in the UK!!

 

I have evn had a friend who works at a supermarket hand my CV in but no luck

Unsure how I would actually fit it in though anyway.

 

 

Yep this budget is crule simple as that. To cut FTB at 6 is very unfair as you cant legally leave the child on there own and many cant afford before and after school care. Be fair make it 12 then people can get back to work as at that age the child can get themselves to and from school.

Edited May 22, 2014 by fairystar32

[Guest Guest66881]

Just on the news about doctors surgeries already noticing a decline in patient throughput, and that that practice was sending out emails to patients notifying them not to worry as they still bulk billed.

[fairystar32]

I recieved an text from a doctors surgery saying they are still bulk billing, think people are panicking. Littlest has been really sick this week, first time I have got into the DR's 3 x in 2 days and turned up for a scan, without issue for appointments!

Just on the news about doctors surgeries already noticing a decline in patient throughput, and that that practice was sending out emails to patients notifying them not to worry as they still bulk billed.

Edited May 22, 2014 by fairystar32

[Tina2]

Yes, I have always planned to go back to work, didnt plan to get sick!

I have always worked in the UK around the kids but comming here, youngest was 9 mths and I stayed home. Hubby has to work on call, some weekends and overtime and sometimes go away, so working is hard. I also have 4 kids, eldest at uni, so inbetween no family to help, frequent hospital trips, running kids around like a taxi, unsure how to fit a job in with the kids.

 

We will now have to move to the local school to save fuel costs (it has taken him 10mths to settle at school, but we moved a yr ago and school is 40 mins away)

We will also have to cut costs, we have no savings as it is. Hubby is paid reasonably well but with 4 kids, mortgage, bills and fuel and food costs ( we try to eat organic due to health reasons and my higher risk of malignancy, but that will no longer be an option now)

 

I have actually had my CV up online in various places and in the 4 big companies for 18 mths now, but hours I can actually do, make it impossible. I didnt even get a checkut operator for 4hr shift interview, yet was a supervisor in 2 shops in the UK!!

 

I have evn had a friend who works at a supermarket hand my CV in but no luck

Unsure how I would actually fit it in though anyway.

What can i say except I understand. This budget is just to broad, I know it is not possible to look at each individual case but surely they can come up with something better than what they are planning. They cant just say - go get a job if there are no jobs. Makes me angry as Family Tax B is NOT welfare, it was a replacement for not being able to claim family discount on your tax return, so to be honest by removing Family Tax B it has in fact put your income taxes UP.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Tina2

[Tina2]

I wonder how many parents will start sending sick kids to school when they should be home in bed simply because they "have" to go to work and cant afford to take them to a doctor.

Even getting someone else to pick the kids up from school if they are sick is not as simple as it seems because of the booster seat regulations. You cant just ask some one to collect the kids from school if there car is not fitted with a booster seat so again working past school hours is really difficult for many parents.

Another intersting thing that happened to a friend. She booked the dog in to kennels been going there for years, got an email saying they will only accept cash from now on, then she took the dog to the groomers and got told the same thing, only cash payments from now on. People are starting to look for ways to off set all these increases.

[Petals]

My docs don't bulk bill health care card or pensioners they pay less than non pensioners by about ten dollars. We managed to bring up our family without any tax concessions and without family allowance. No help with child care either and we managed. Not that I am a fan of the budget but have to say its a lot easier for parents these days than when my children were growing up. We also had interest rates on mortgages of 14 and 15 percent.

 

I think that the people who are being disadvantaged by this budget are those on the basic pension, disability pension, university students and our youth, shame on the government for not supporting our youth making education only for the rich. We will rue the day, this government has just moved back thirty years, oh that is not quite right they got free uni then did they not, oh must have taught them to be meanies when they did their degrees for nothing.

[Que Sera Sera]

My docs don't bulk bill health care card or pensioners they pay less than non pensioners by about ten dollars. We managed to bring up our family without any tax concessions and without family allowance. No help with child care either and we managed. Not that I am a fan of the budget but have to say its a lot easier for parents these days than when my children were growing up. We also had interest rates on mortgages of 14 and 15 percent.

 

I think that the people who are being disadvantaged by this budget are those on the basic pension, disability pension, university students and our youth, shame on the government for not supporting our youth making education only for the rich. We will rue the day, this government has just moved back thirty years, oh that is not quite right they got free uni then did they not, oh must have taught them to be meanies when they did their degrees for nothing.

 

I don't think its as bad as that, because I reckon first chance they'll be booted out. Just remember those young people and pensioners have a vote and they may just use it properly by then.

[Parley]

Yes Petals, unfortunately people these days are so used to handouts they squeal like stuck pigs when something is taken away or they are requested to pay something for the services they use.

 

Shocking freeloaders.

 

In your day people just got on with it, didn't expect the government to pay for everything they want in life.

[Parley]

Just on the news about doctors surgeries already noticing a decline in patient throughput, and that that practice was sending out emails to patients notifying them not to worry as they still bulk billed.

 

Good News.

[Xenon4017]

I don't think its as bad as that, because I reckon first chance they'll be booted out. Just remember those young people and pensioners have a vote and they may just use it properly by then.

 

Right, so a landslide victory last spring doesn't count as using your vote "properly". It's only proper if you vote ALP?

 

Let's be fair, TA did bang on quite a bit about the ALPs expenditure before the election. These things shouldn't come as a surprise. There will soon by a by election for the public to register their displeasure.

[Skani]

Good News.

 

Not for you when your taxes go up because these patients are going to a public hospital A& E instead - where it costs the public purse 11 times more than a GP visit (figures calculated by actuaries, not by any political party with an axe to grind)

or if your admission to A&E in an emergency is delayed because it's clogged up with people who should be attending a GP instead.