Doctors angry over Kevin Rudd’s Medicare blitz
The Australian Government has infuriated doctors by launching a blitz on overcharging of Medicare that it believes will net almost $150 million.
Each year the Medicare scheme paid out more than $13 billion. The higher number of audits will lift the checks from 500 to 2,500 and will increase scrutiny on specialists and allied health professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists.
Checks will occur irrespective of whether the overcharging is deliberate, targeting practices that do not warrant referral to the Professional Services Review or for criminal investigation.
Australian Medical Association (AMA) president, Rosanna Capolingua, has accused the Government of acting “big brotherish” over the blitz.
The AMA opposes the Rudd Government over a number of issues including the role of nurses and allied health professionals in primary health care, its decision to pull out of organising staffing for children’s health checks for the Northern Territory Aboriginal intervention, and the Government’s plans to change the criteria for the Medicare levy and surcharge.
Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig said that, from January 1, the number of audits of health professionals would increase from less than 1% of the workforce to 4% of the nation’s doctors, specialists and allied health professionals such as nurses.
“This initiative will result in savings of more than $148 million for taxpayers,” Senator Ludwig said. Figures released by Senator Ludwig show that the Medicare Australia compliance program saved taxpayers $250 million in the last financial year, mostly by reducing incorrect claiming.
