Pathology and Radiology Sectors Pleased About Co-payment Scrapping

Pathology Australia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) have expressed their contentment regarding the Government's decision to drop the plans for the medical co-payment.

Pathology Australia's CEO Liesel Wett  said the organisation understood and shared the Government's concerns for a sustainable healthcare system in Australia.

With 70 per cent of medical decisions and 100 per cent of cancer diagnoses relying pathology tests, Ms Wett said the changes announced would ensure the continued provision of high-quality pathology services.

"In this case, the Government has listened to the Pathology sector's concerns and has provided the best policy outcome possible," Ms Wett said.

The Faculty of Clinical Radiology's Dean Dr Greg Slater also welcomed the changes, and said radiology is a critical component to the Australian health system.

"I am pleased that the Government has decided not to proceed with  a co-payment on diagnostic imaging," Dr Slater said.

"Imaging allows for the diagnosis of disease with more precision than we have ever had in the past.

"Imaging also allows us to catch and treat disease or injury earlier than ever before which can be a major factor in patient outcomes.

"RANZCR had serious concerns that the introduction of a co-payment would reduce patient access to this important health service ... The Government has made the right call."

However, while the co-payment may be gone, a $5 cut to MBS rebates means the cost of seeing a GP will increase. Additionally, rebates will be "frozen" until 2018, and GP practice costs and staff wages won't be frozen until that year.

In response to the scrapping of the co-payment, Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone said that while the AMA is pleased to see it gone, neither the old proposal or the new one support the sustainability of general practice.

"This freeze goes against economic principles. Staff wages and practice overhead costs will continue to increase. Patients will bear the brunt of this freeze and get less money back," Dr Bartone said.

"A $5 reduction to the rebate means that your average non bulk-billed patient will pay $5 more to see a GP. If they get $37.10 back from Medicare now, they will only get $32.10 back."