Menu Close

Articles on Medicare rebates

Displaying all articles

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten addressed the National Press Club on February 1 and January 31 respectively. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

FactCheck: are bulk-billing rates falling, or at record levels?

In twin speeches to the National Press Club, Labor leader Bill Shorten said bulk-billing rates are falling, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said bulk-billing is at record levels. Who was right?
Although the Coalition is largely associated with this issue, Labor first introduced the Medicare rebate freeze in 2013 as a ‘temporary’ measure. AAP/Joel Carrett

Confused about the Medicare rebate freeze? Here’s what you need to know

Labor will lift the rebate freeze from 2017, while under the Coalition, GPs will be paid the same amount for delivering health services in 2020 as they were in 2014. So what does this mean for patients?
Big spending education and health plans will form the core of Labor’s appeal to voters. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Shorten government would end freeze on Medicare rebates

A Labor government would restore the indexation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule from January, at a cost of $2.4 billion over the forward estimates.
Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten shake hands before the people’s forum in Sydney on Friday. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Shorten wins first debate

The first debate of the election campaign, a “people’s forum” of 100 undecided voters in western Sydney that was a relatively free-flowing affair, saw Bill Shorten come out ahead. After the encounter…
New modelling shows the Medicare rebate freeze will leave GPs A$8.43 worse off per consultation. DIBP images/Flickr

High cost of GP rebate freeze may see co-payments rise from the dead

With GPs facing greater economic pressure and the health minister considering legislative change to make it easier for GP to charge them, GP co-payments, like Lazarus, may rise again from the dead.
Health minister Sussan Ley announcing the government would maintain the Medicare rebate freeze but ditch the co-payment. LUKAS COCH/AAP

How likely are doctors to charge more due to the rebate freeze?

Doctors groups have warned the Coalition government’s plan to maintain the Medicare rebate freeze will means patients will have to pay more for medical services.

Top contributors

More