Veterans missing out on quality health care
An Australian Medical Association (AMA) survey of nearly 1,800 specialists has shown that 41% said they could not continue to treat all Gold Care Card Veterans under the Repatriation Private Patients Scheme (RPPS) due to inadequate remuneration for the longer, more detailed consultations involved. This percentage has almost doubled since a similar 2004 survey which showed that 21% of specialists were contemplating cutting back on treating veterans.
The AMA says that the RPPS paid only $85.15 for an initial specialist consultation compared with Compensation Scheme payments of $128. The AMA also said that many veterans were being place on public hospital waiting lists, delaying their treatment.
The survey indicated that many more specialists would like to participate in the RPPS but only if the Government increased funding for the specialist care of Veterans, who suffer more complex and chronic conditions than others in the community.
