JIMBOOMBA residents have been spared the sting of a $20 increase to their medical bills after the federal government bowed to public pressure.
Cuts to the Medicare rebate for consultations under 10 minutes were released shortly before Christmas and were due to come into effect on Monday, January 19.
Yet on Thursday afternoon newly-minted health minister Sussan Ley announced the changes were “off the table”.
Jimboomba GP Dr Devendra Kawol was one of many health professionals outraged by the planned changes.
Earlier this week he said he would face little choice but to charge his patients an added $20 as his practice could not absorb the cuts.
“This is a private GP-owned practice and with this rebate cut there’ll be no bulk billing,” Dr Kawol said.
“I’ve talked to my patients and most are happy to pay, but for kids and the pensioners this will affect them the hardest.”
Ms Ley said the government was committed to bring an end to "six minute medicine".
“I will be undertaking wide ranging consultation on the ground with doctors and the community across the country in order to come up with clear options to deliver appropriate Medicare reforms,” Ms Ley said.
Dr Kawol welcomed the reprieve.
“Just as we suspected the government is backing off so they don’t make themselves look bad,” he said.
The federal government’s proposed change would have meant people who paid to see their GP would receive $20.10 less back from Medicare consultations of up to 10 minutes.
