Labor cautiously welcomes the Health Minister’s decision to back Labor’s policy for an expert led review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) but remains deeply suspicious about the Government’s intentions.
Labor began the MBS review in government to improve efficiency, quality and safety in health care and as I indicated last week, a Shorten Labor Government would continue this important work.
However, as I also made clear last week, it is crucial this review not be used as just another excuse to rip money out of health.
Australia’s Medicare Benefits Schedule contains around 6,000 items ranging from brain surgery to treatment for a common cold.
It details each medical service as well as the rebate payable by general practitioners and other specialists, including pathology and diagnostic imaging services.
But in such a rapidly changing and expanding field as health, many of these items can be quickly rendered out of date, both in the rebates they pay, and the procedures they fund.
As a result of Labor’s review process, close to $1 billion in savings are already being realised over the next five years on just two MBS items.
Labor is concerned that this government will revert to type and simply use the MBS review as another excuse to rip money out of healthcare as it has done with Labor’s existing work in this area, and indeed with every one of its cuts to health.
Instead the Government should be working with clinicians to use this review to improve the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of healthcare to sustain Medicare and modernise Medicare as an affordable healthcare system for all Australians.
The Government must make clear this is not just another way to cut money from health and instead commit to reinvesting an savings back into the health care system.
The Government’s review of the MBS must also complement the Choosing Wisely campaign being launched next week.
Labor also welcomes the establishment of the Primary Care Advisory Group as a sensible move to try to repair the damage done by the Government to the primary care sector though its GP Tax and health cuts.
However, if the Government is to be believed that it is serious about improving primary care it must immediately drop its four year freeze on doctor rebates.
Australians deserve better than a government which only ever sees health as a source for Budget cuts.
Only Labor believes in Medicare, and only Labor will protect Medicare and build the health system, for the 21st Century that Australian deserve.
MBS REVIEW MUST NOT BE ANOTHER EXCUSE TO CUT HEALTH FUNDING
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2015