Catherine King

Catherine King

CATHERINE KING MP
Federal Member Ballarat
Shadow Minister Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development

T (03) 5338 8123
Email: Catherine.King.MP@aph.gov.au

Catherine King MP
<strong>Electorate Office</strong><br>5 Lydiard Street North<br>Ballarat, VIC 3350<br><br><strong>Bacchus Marsh</strong><br>(every Friday from 10am to 3pm)<br>Lerderderg Library<br>Geoffrey Hine Room<br>215 Main Street<br>Bacchus Marsh, VIC 3340

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Monday, 30 November 2015 / Published in MEDIA

SENATE MUST PUT PATIENTS FIRST

The Senate must today put patients first and reject Malcolm Turnbull’s flawed plans to rip $270 million from the Medicare Safety Nets.
 
While Labor is prepared to support sensible reforms to simplify and improve the Medicare Safety Nets, under the Turnbull Government’s plan, this is money being taken from patients and once again, not being put back directly into care for disadvantaged communities.
 
The evidence against the legislation in a recent Senate report was damning.
 

  • The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners warned of “significant concerns that the proposed changes will leave all patients with greater out-of-pocket costs.
  • The Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network warned the changes could have a dangerous impact on sex abuse victims. "This might have serious associated risks to their lives and might severely interfere with their real chance of recovery.”
  • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists told the inquiry the College is:“… very concerned about the impact that the proposed new Medicare Safety Net will have on vulnerable people with mental illness who require long-term intensive psychotherapy
  • Radiation and oncology provider GenesisCare warned the changes proposed by the Turnbull Government will, “on average more than double patient out-of-pocket costs for radiotherapy”.
  • The Department of Health admitted that “based on the current arrangements certainly for assisted reproductive technology our analysis says that the second and further cycles may leave a patient around $850 out of pocket.”

 A dissenting report by Labor members on the government-dominated committee enquiring into the bill makes clear the legislation cannot proceed in its current form and will be damaging to patients.

“Labor Senators are especially concerned by the likely impact on patients needing ongoing access to psychiatrists, cancer patients and those accessing assisted reproductive technology services, and the government’s lack of attention on addressing these impacts.

Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee,
Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015
Dissenting Report 

The Medicare Safety Nets were introduced in recognition that some patients need greater access to medical services, especially vulnerable groups like those with serious and costly medical issues at different times in their lives.
 
While Labor is happy to discuss sensible reforms, the government’s changes could adversely impact some of the most needy and vulnerable patients and we do not support the legislation in its current form.

Tagged under: 2015

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© Catherine King. Authorised by Catherine King, Australian Labor Party, Canberra

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