News
RACGP pushes for changes to Medicare Safety Net
As patients on low incomes continue to forego care due to out-of-pocket costs, the RACGP is urging for safety net thresholds to be lowered.
A newsGP poll found 66% of respondents agreed the MSN thresholds are set too high to benefit patients.
The RACGP is calling on the Federal Government to renew the Medicare Safety Net (MSN) health policy to address shortfalls and implement a solution to patients rising out-of-pocket costs.
In a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s (DoHAC) Medicare Safety Net Reform Working Group, the college says the MSN thresholds must be lowered to ensure patients across all income brackets can benefit.
The submission specifically recommends the DoHAC:
- lowers the MSN threshold for both individuals and families, potentially based on income
- implements a freeze on MSN indexation while Medicare patient rebates are increased to an adequate amount, eg a period of funding titration
- introduces a ‘rolling’ 12-month period for MSN qualification.
The RACGP says the current fixed 12-month period for qualification is an ‘inflexible adherence to the calendar year’, as it excludes many patients from qualifying, whereas a rolling 12-month period would be a ‘fairer approach’.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said while the safety net exists to reduce out-of-pocket patient costs, many are still missing out on the benefits.
‘As it stands, people can’t benefit from the MSN if they can’t afford the upfront out-of-pocket cost of seeing their GP – this means the most vulnerable Australians, those on low incomes are being left behind,’ she said.
‘Lowering the safety net thresholds will improve access to essential GP care for people on low incomes, and mean fewer people will put off seeing their GP due to financial strain.
‘This would provide significant financial relief, particularly for people with chronic health conditions or high healthcare needs.’
According to a
January newsGP poll, 66% of respondents agreed the MSN thresholds are set too high to benefit patients.
Dr Higgins said patients are particularly impacted with
current cost-of-living pressures.
‘We’re seeing more people having to choose between healthcare and other life necessities,’ she said.
‘We know when people can’t access GP care, they get sicker and end up in hospital, which costs our health system much more.’
The RACGP’s calls come after the
MBS Review Taskforce’s final report identified a range of issues to be addressed in relation to consumer out-of-pocket costs and the operation of the safety nets.
This included the establishment of a Working Group with the medical profession and consumers to review current safety net arrangements and advise on opportunities for reform of the system, and is currently in the first round of consultation.
The RACGP has requested the opportunity to be a member of the Medicare Safety Net Reform Working Group, tasked with reviewing current arrangements to ensure appropriate representation of GPs.
In its submission, the RACGP says it does not support annual indexation to the MSN without measures to address the cost of care.
‘Given the previous 10-year freeze to the Medicare patient rebates as any indexation moves the safety nets further away from appropriate amounts, penalising patients,’ it states.
The college is calling for increased funding for primary care as an effective solution to address the rise in complex conditions and disparities in health outcomes for patients across Australia, to enable coordinated and continuous general practice care.
‘Any solution to the MSN funding model needs to provide genuine support for patients and ensure that equitable outcomes are at its heart,’ the submission states.
As part of
ongoing college advocacy, Dr Higgins reiterated calls for ‘meaningful investment’ to urgently increase patients’ Medicare rebates.
‘Patients’ Medicare rebates have not kept up with inflation and no longer cover the full cost of providing care,’ she said.
‘We’re continuing to call for an increase to rebates for longer consultations – to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients so they can access the care they need.’
A
separate newsGP poll confirmed that the majority – 69% of respondents – believe that a 20% increase to rebates for 20-minute and longer consults is the RACGP’s most important advocacy ask.
‘General practice care must be affordable for everyone,’ Dr Higgins said.
‘The RACGP looks forward to collaborating with the DoHAC to ensure the MSN is effective, and that everyone can access the essential healthcare they need, when and where they need it.’
Log in below to join the conversation.
cost of living Medicare Medicare reform Medicare Safety Net patient costs patient rebates
newsGP weekly poll
Do you think changes are needed to make the PBS authority approval process more streamlined for GPs?