Some political experts are still predicting a Federal Election will be held in November this year.

After receiving a press release from a Labor Party spokesperson it appears that 'Mediscare' may be used as an attack weapon against the Liberal/National Party once again, think 2016.

The press release said:

Kevin Hogan’s National and Liberal Party Government has launched the biggest attack on Medicare in decades. 

Under the cover of an understandable national focus on the Victorian COVID-19 outbreak, Kevin Hogan’s Government has snuck out almost 1,000 changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Labor Party spokesperson for Page said “Australians that are already suffering are being punished even further because of these ruthless Medicare cuts. The age of residents in the Page electorate is higher than most electorates in the country, and it is older people that will face the greatest impact of these cuts”.

“Mr Hogan must explain to the people of Page why changes that will put the health of older residents at risk and why his Government continues to attack Medicare”, Mr Deegan said.

Patients have been left in limbo for months waiting to know if their procedure will still be covered or what changes will be made.

Patients now face the prospect of life-changing surgeries being cancelled at the last minute, or being landed with huge bills they didn’t expect. 

The AMA warned the Government about the rushed nature of these changes and the fact they cannot be implemented without significant disruption to the provision of healthcare to countless Australians.

Cutting Medicare is in the Nationals’ DNA. You can’t trust Mr Hogan and the Nationals on Medicare.

“Labor built Medicare and we will always protect it” Mr Deegan said.

The Lismore App has approached Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, who had this to say in reply:

“The Government’s commitment to Medicare is rock solid. 

The 2021-22 Federal Budget increases funding for Medicare by $6 billion.

Commonwealth Medicare funding has increased from $19 billion per year in 2012/13 to approximately:

·         $30 billion in 2021-22

·         $31 billion in 2022-23

·         $32 billion in 2023-24

·         $33 billion in 2024-25  

In addition, bulk billing rates are at a record high - 88.7 per cent for the period from July 2020 to March 2021. 

This is 6.7 percentage points higher than the same period in 2012-13 (82.0 per cent) – when Labor were last in government. 

The MBS Review Taskforce completed its activity on 30 June 2020, providing over 60 reports outlining almost 1,400 recommendations to the Government on how to modernise the MBS, align it with contemporary clinical practice, and improve patient outcomes.

The Taskforce is clinician-led, independent of Government and comprised of eminent Australian clinicians and consumers. 

These are medical changes based on medical advice, in particular from the Medicare Benefits Taskforce, as well as the Medical Services Advisory Committee.

As part of the 2021-22 Budget, we’re investing $125.7 billion over the next four years, an increase of over $6 billion from last year’s Budget.

The medical advice includes new or expanded items such as bone grafting and orthopaedic procedures and increasing rebates, which will open up more opportunities for patients.

There is a wide range of items that have increased rebates, across orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, general surgery, and gynaecology. For example some items related to ankle fractures, clavicle fractures, Oesophagectomy and Pancreatectomy rebates have increased.

A total of $711.7 million will be invested in the 21/22 Budget for new and amended MBS items.

$288.5 million to improve mental health outcomes for patients with a medication-resistant major depressive disorder. For the first time, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy prescribing and treatment services will become available from 1 November 2021

$40.5 million for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring – a new service for diagnosing high blood pressure (hypertension) that provides greater accuracy for diagnosis through continuous monitoring over 24 hours. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is superior to the currently MBS funded service of discrete blood pressure measurements in a clinic, or using home blood pressure monitors in conjunction with GP consultations.

$27 million for plastic and reconstructive surgery items, including general and skin surgeries, cranio-maxillofacial/oral and maxillofacial items.

There has been ongoing and extensive engagement with the relevant peak bodies such as the Australian Medical Association, Australian Private Hospital Association and Private Healthcare Australia about the details of the July 1 changes. 

For example, in relation to Orthopaedics, there were nine meetings of the Implementation Liaison Group, which were held between May and December 2020 and discussions with key stakeholders to support effective communication of the changes are ongoing. 

The sector has been deeply engaged in these assessments as we worked in consultation with them. Draft documents were provided to assist insurers and hospitals and have been publicly available on the Department of Health’s website since early 2021.”

So, the answer to the question posed in the headline, "is Mediscare back on the table for Labor?" is leaning towards a 'yes', at least, Labor is testing the waters for another assault on the Government.

This is also another indication that an election may be held in 2021 rather than 2022.