PM's Medicare move doomed
The $20 increase paid by patients for making a brief visit to the doctor is likely to be short-lived, with Labor and crossbench senators planning to reverse Tony Abbott's cuts to Medicare rebates.
However, the move will punch another $1.3 billion hole in the Budget, as a frustrated Prime Minister challenged critics to come up with alternative ideas.
After the Government conceded defeat last month over its original plan to impose a $7 co-payment, it announced several other measures it would introduce by regulation to cut health spending by $3.5 billion over four years.
From Monday, the Medicare rebate paid for doctor visits lasting less than 10 minutes will be slashed by $20.10 to $16.95. These short consultations are typically used for vaccinations or renewing scripts. The Government argues the change would end "six-minute medicine" where doctors churn through appointments.
But GPs have warned the rebate cut undermined bulk billing and may be passed on to patients who could then clog up emergency wards to seek free care.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor would move a disallowance motion in the Senate when Parliament resumes on February 9.
"We will oppose Tony Abbott absolutely changing the rebate system for our GPs . . . through this sneaky backdoor method," he said.
With Greens senators also vowing to disallow the changes, support is needed from just four of eight other crossbenchers to undo the cut.
Independents Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie have declared their opposition to the cut, while independent John Madigan and the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party's Ricky Muir have signalled their concerns.
The Palmer United Party is also set to back the disallowance motion, with WA Senator Dio Wang saying he personally did not support the cut.
While the axe is hovering, GPs will have to absorb the rebate cut or pass it on to their patients for at least three weeks before the Senate can vote on a disallowance motion. Mr Abbott accused Labor of sabotaging efforts to fix the Budget.
"The crossbench, it seems, is prepared to go along with the Labor Party at times," he said.
"I say to all of the critics, if you don't like what we are doing come up with your alternative because we simply cannot go on as a government and as a country living beyond our means."
