Ensuring continuity of GP services in aged care
The announcement by the federal government to drop plans for the Medicare co-payment has been welcomed by Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) as a strong outcome for older Australians.
LASA chief executive, Patrick Reid, claims the co-payment drop is evidence that the government has listened to the concerns of the aged care sector.
LASA further endorses the move to exempt pensioners, veterans and aged care residents.
LASA chief executive, Patrick Reid, says Treasurer Hockey's summation that 'one of the great challenges we face is that we are an ageing population' is key to health reform in the very near future and something that central agencies will need to consider adequate funding for.
LASA considers the changes announced will go some small way to ensuring continuity of GP services in aged care, something that LASA has spoken at length with to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), government and other stakeholders outlining the challenges of doctors working in age services.
“This change in government position is clear evidence that the government has listened to the concerns of Leading Age Services and is awakening to the rise of age services as critically important in health” Mr Reid says.
“We support the ongoing sustainability of the Medicare system and encourage the Treasurer to see older Australians as a benefit for Australia rather than a fiscal problem to be solved.
“In this case, the government has listened to the age services sector’s concerns and has provided the best policy outcome possible,” he says.
“The decision also ensures that age service providers are not caught as the tax collector for the government and older Australians can continue to receive the best possible age services, making great sense for aged care recipients and their families. On behalf of older Australians, this is a good outcome from strong LASA advocacy.”
COTA Australia, a body for older Australians, also welcomes the federal government's announcement, claiming older people are already struggling to meet high out of pocket healthcare costs and an additional charge will place an unreasonable burden on many seniors.
Ian Yates, COTA Australia chief executive, claims since the Budget announcement, the lobby group has received a continuous stream of calls from older people worried about how they would meet their healthcare costs.
“The backdown on levying a GP co-payment will be welcome by pensioners, veterans and residents of aged care facilities,” Mr Yates says.
“COTA also supports measures offering GPs incentives for spending a reasonable time with patients, especially important for a holistic approach to treating older patients or those with chronic conditions.
“However, there are still a significant number of older Australians who do not meet the co-payment exemption criteria and the risk remains that they will fall through the cracks.
“COTA Australia remains of the view that there should not be price impediments to any older Australians, or Australians generally, accessing primary healthcare.
“People should be encouraged to access primary health care as soon as they have a health issue, to stop its escalating and creating both health risks and additional costs of higher level services.
“There is no sign the government is looking at tackling the supply and pricing of specialist and tertiary level medical services,” he says.
