‘Free’ GP visits are on last legs

BULK-BILLED ‘‘free’’ visits to the GP could be replaced with a new $ 5 co- payment under proposals being considered by Tony Abbott’s budget razor gang.

The end of free visits to the GP is designed to send a ‘‘price signal’’ to patients to avoid unnecessary visits to the doctor and ensure the sick can get an appointment when they need to see a doctor.

But the proposals under consideration would have exclusions for pensioners and concession card holders.

One option would be to allow families ‘‘ free’’ bulkbilled visits without an out-ofpocket cost after six to 12 visits a year.

A Commission of Audit established by the Abbott Government to better target government services explicitly listed co-payments as an option for consideration suggesting an investigation into savings and appropriate price signals such as co-payments and ‘‘user-charging or incentive payments’’.

It will report in January.

Asked if he would consider ending bulk-billing in Australia by introducing a $5 copayment for bulk-billed GP consultations, the Prime Minister did not rule it out.

‘‘I am not going to start flagging what may or may not be in the budget. Other than to say we do need a massive fiscal repair job,’’ Mr Abbott said. ‘‘And we are up to it.’’

Consideration of an out-ofpocket fee for bulk- billled visits follows the Abbott Government’s approval of the biggest increases to private health insurance rebates in nearly a decade.

The Hawke Government briefly introduced a copayment for bulk-billed GP visits in the 1990s to a storm of controversy that the meas- ure undermined the universality of medicare.

Australian Medical Association President Steve Hambleton warned patients would be less likely to go to a doctor.

The Australian Centre for Health Research had urged the Abbott Government to consider a co-payment saving the budget $750 million over four years.