AMA’s co-pay ideas not the silver bullet

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) last week called on the federal government to dump the “seriously flawed” GP co-payments proposal and adopt the AMA model, which reportedly exempts the most vulnerable patients from extra cost burdens for their health care.

Associate Professor Brian Owler, AMA president, says the AMA has vigorously opposed the government’s proposal since Budget night and has worked to produce an alternative model that is “fairer and more equitable”.

“The AMA has produced a health policy, not an economic policy. Our model is based on the realities of day to day medical practice, and our objective is to provide higher quality primary care for all Australians,” Associate Professor Owler says.

However, Ian Yates, COTA chief executive, says older people are the major users of Australia's health care system; therefore, introducing a co-payment for GP visits will hit them hardest.

“There will be hundreds of thousands of older Australians who may just not qualify for a concession card, and thus be excluded under the AMA policy, but are still on very low incomes,” Mr Yates says. “These people are already struggling to meet the out of pocket expenses for their health care,” he adds.

Out of pocket health expenses are already a barrier for older people to visit their doctor, with many telling COTA that they delay seeing a doctor, or just don't go at all.

“This is not a discretionary or luxury expense that they can choose to forgo without potentially serious repercussions to their health. Seeing your GP and getting an early diagnosis for an illness or condition is the cheapest and most effective way to manage health,” Mr Yates says.

According to Mr Yates, it doesn't make sense to introduce a disincentive at this point for older people to get the care they need.

“What you end up with is a poorer and more intense health outcome for the older patient and a much bigger cost to the public purse when that individual ends up being hospitalised or needing other acute care,” he says.

The public discussion on the GP co-payment, without proper consultation with those who it will most effect, is a concern to older Australians.

“Again we are seeing a policy on the table which is being debated through the media and behind closed doors in Canberra,” he says.

Mr Yates calls for open discussion with all relevant stakeholders to find a better solution to sustainable health care.

“We already have a Medicare levy in place which is sensibly charged to those who can afford it,” he says. “Let’s not add another layer of red tape and expense when there are mechanisms like this already in place.”