With the next federal election on the horizon, the public health system has been hot on the agenda this week.
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Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly joined House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport members Sharon Claydon and Mike Freelander in Bega and Merimbula this week to discuss the future of the nation’s health system.
It is the second visit to the region by what has been dubbed the Medicare Taskforce, and the Medicare rebate freeze absorbed much of Tuesday’s forum at Club Bega.
A paediatrician with over 30 years experience, Dr Freelander said the Medicare design of the 1960s needs to be reinvented.
“Various government’s at various times have fiddled with the system, and what has happened is the system has fallen behind the actual needs, so many people have been disadvantaged,” he said.
“We need to reinvent those systems.
“Neither one side is right nor wrong, and both sides have frozen the medicare rebates. It has not kept up with standards of living, and it has not kept up with doctor’s costs.”
Dr Freelander said private general practice must become more viable, as more patients present themselves to hospitals.
“Many people are missing out on high level care because they can’t afford it, and that’s not fair,” Dr Freelander said.
Dr Freelander said the health system has “fallen behind the needs of people”, and agreed the 80 per cent rebate once a safety net has been reached will not stop specialists charging high amounts for their services.
Practice manager Steve Nimmo said a consultation in Narooma can be as high as $80, and others discussed cheaper hospital transfer options.
Earlier this year Labor announced a planned $2.8billion Better Hospitals Fund, following Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon’s statement in March that “public hospitals continue to face a funding crisis – one that is rapidly eroding their capacity to provide essential services to the public”.