Fed: Lees tips more cracks in Medicare

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2005
Fed: Lees tips more cracks in Medicare

CANBERRA, April 17 AAP - Australian Progressive Alliance Senator Meg Lees has tipped
further cracks in Medicare following the government's lifting of the safety net threshold.

Senator Lees, who leaves the Senate on June 30 after 15 years in parliament, said the
risk of a cost blowout was raised consistently during debate on the safety net.

But she said the government refused to consider alternatives and declared Treasury
had done the costings and believed there would be no problem.

Senator Lees said the backdown was very disappointing and more so now that the government
would gain control of the Senate from mid-year.

"The Senate being in their hands after July, they could basically do what they like,"

she told ABC television.

"My worry is for those Australians who aren't well, who face a lot of doctors' bills,
specialists bills, GP bills, and I think we will see further cracks appearing and I think
you will see in the future further changes that don't have to be made."

Senator Lees said government control of the Senate meant they would not have to negotiate
with the parliament, although presumably they would still talk with the medical profession.

"The message to them is basically do what you can at the time but be aware that this
government puts economic priorities very high up the ladder and often loses sight of some
of the original aims of a measure," she said.

Senator Lees said the Senate had rejected the government's original Medicare safety
net legislation but it came back with changes and substantially more money.

But they made it clear this was their plan and they would not consider alternatives.

"So it was down to those of us on the crossbenches to try and get the best possible
deal that we could for those people most in need and those are the Australians with chronic
illness, particularly those on low incomes," she said.

"That's why we worked so hard to drop the level at which the safety net cut in, because
for many Australians finding just a couple of hundred dollars ... is an enormous impost."

Senator Lees said the risk of a cost blowout was raised in the Senate committee consideration
of the legislation, in the Senate debate and by Labor in the media.

"The government said to us, well look yeah there is a bit of a risk but treasury has
done the costings and the department has looked forward into the future and said no look
we will wear it," she said.

The government last week said it would lift the Medicare threshold for out-of-pocket
medical expenses, with families, pensioners and health card holders now having to spend
$500, up from $300, before the government picks up 80 per cent of the tab.

For others the threshold will be lifted to at least $1,000, up from $700.

AAP mb/dl/sd

KEYWORD: MEDICARE LEES

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