PATIENTS are already putting off visiting the doctor because of the coalition government's GP co-payment, even though the measure won't come into effect until next year.
The Australian Medical Association says one clinic in Mt Druitt in Sydney has reported a fall in visits since the budget, and had to send out SMS messages to patients to inform them they were still bulk billing.
There was also evidence of a drop in patients at one clinic in Tasmania, the doctors' group said.
AMA President Steve Hambleton said the reports, while isolated, represented a widespread concern with the $7 co-payment.
"It's disturbing that people have got mixed messages," he told reporters in Canberra.
"It is very important for patients to realise this does not start until 2015."
The AMA and other health groups have repeatedly warned a co-payment would deter people from visiting the doctor, and could result in hospital emergency departments being overwhelmed by those trying to avoid the charge.
But Dr Hambleton said there had not been an increase in emergency department presentations since last Tuesday's budget.
Asked about the AMA's concerns, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was confident the co-payment was consistent with a "strong and dynamic, affordable and accessible Medicare system".
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Some avoiding GP because of payment: AMA
Dengan url
http://beritasementara.blogspot.com/2014/05/some-avoiding-gp-because-of-payment-ama.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Some avoiding GP because of payment: AMA
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Some avoiding GP because of payment: AMA
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar