Melton and Moorabool residents have slammed a $7 “patient contribution” fee for visits to bulk-billing GPs as disgraceful and unfair, saying it targets the community’s most vulnerable.
Under the tough new federal budget measures, trips to bulk-billing doctors, out-of-hospital pathology and imaging services such as X-rays and MRI scans will be charged.
Maddingley resident Marg Scarff said it was an insult and incredibly unfair on people with chronic illnesses.
“I’m on a low income and I would think twice about going. I’d also be trying to get more value from an appointment,” she said. “People will go to emergency departments, which are already being used inappropriately and have enormous pressure on them.”
The proposed budget will also bring in a $5 prescription fee for all scripts, which will start from January 1 next year and will apply to any prescription subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
“It will come down to the choice between ‘do I go to the doctors to get a script updated or do I have a meal tonight?’” Ms Scarff said.
Ballan hospital chief executive Wayne Weaire said while he was concerned about the impact the fee would have on low-income families, the service would “wait and see” what it meant for them.
Mr Weaire said he was hopeful the fee would safeguard vulnerable groups, with concession card patients and people under 16 only having to pay the contribution for their first 10 visits a year.
“The small print is still to be sorted and then we’ll work out how we set up and work with the government. I think it’ll take about two weeks.”
Melton resident Nathan Miles said the most sick and needy in the community would suffer most.
“It’s going to deter people from going and be costly for those who can’t really afford it but have to,” he said.
But Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell praised the new $20 billion medical research fund that the payment will go towards – $5 of it to the fund and $2 to the doctor.
“I don’t have an issue with the GP fee, it’s not a ridiculous amount of money and the doctors are clogged up by people going for unnecessary visits.”
The research fund is tipped to reach its $20 billion target within six years.
