p>The Abbott Government’s assault on Medicare has been torpedoed by new research showing bulk-billing does not encourage shorter consultations.
A study by researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney published in today’s Medical Journal of Australia finds patients who had a short consultation with a general practitioner at their last visit were no more likely to be bulkbilled than those who had longer consultations.
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The Abbott Government’s assault on Medicare has been torpedoed by new research showing bulk-billing does not encourage shorter consultations.
A study by researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney published in today’s Medical Journal of Australia finds patients who had a short consultation with a general practitioner at their last visit were no more likely to be bulkbilled than those who had longer consultations.
Instead, the study found patients were more likely to be bulkbilled if they had a chronic illness, a concession card or were on a lower income.
This is humiliating and undeniable evidence that the Abbott Government’s GP Tax policy is bad health policy.
The study confirms there is no link between bulk-billing and so-called “six minute medicine” and the Abbott Government’s assault on Medicare and bulk-billing is entirely ideological, and not driven by evidence.
Despite this, reports today indicate new Health Minister Sussan Ley is continuing to pursue plans for a third version of her government’s twice failed GP Tax in direct contravention of all evidence.
These reports confirm Tony Abbott may have changed his Health Minister, but he hasn’t changed his GP Tax or his determination to end bulk billing and destroy Medicare.
It’s still a tax, it’s still a broken promise and it will only ever rise as long as Tony Abbott remains in power.
Labor believes Australians should get the health care they need, not just what they can afford.
Only Labor will protect Medicare.
Labor built Medicare we won’t let Tony Abbott destroy it.
Only Labor will protect ordinary Australian families from Tony Abbott’s attempt to wreck Medicare and push up health costs for people already under financial pressure.