Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your
contribution is not tax-deductible.)
PayPal Acct: 
Feedback: 
Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):
| Sunday, May 17, 10:31:06am | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: Abbott deals medical smartcard | |
|
Author: NOVEMBER 15, 2003 |
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 06:29:42am Abbott deals medical smartcard Misha Schubert and Steve Lewis NOVEMBER 15, 2003 THE Howard Government has sought to camouflage another disastrous drop in bulk-billing by floating a plan to let the private sector collect private health records for a new patient smartcard. As new figures showed bulk-billing had plunged to its lowest level in 14 years, Health Minister Tony Abbott endorsed moves for Medicare cards to give doctors access to an electronic record of a patient's medical history. And in a controversial new twist, Mr Abbott raised the prospect of letting private companies control such records and charge fees for access. "If ambulance officers and emergency doctors could use Medicare cards or some other available smartcard ... counter-productive treatment could be avoided," he told the Pursuing Opportunity and Prosperity Conference in Melbourne yesterday. The minister's controversial plan - dubbed "Big Brother for profit" by Labor - came as the latest figures revealed the Government has failed to stem the decline in bulk-billing. ADVERTISEMENT The Australian Medical Association said bulk-billing - in which patients get free care because their doctor charges them only the $25 Medicare rebate - was "fast approaching its use-by date" as figures for the September quarter showed it had fallen to 67.4 per cent, the lowest rate since 1989-90. Nearly 30 electorates across the country, many in regional areas, now have bulk-billing rates below 50 per cent. Mr Abbott raised the prospect of private companies charging patients for access to their own medical records. "One way to allay fears about snoops and busybodies prying into secrets might be to have people opt in, perhaps even buy the service, as a more sophisticated version of the information bracelets diabetics and others used to wear to enable better emergency treatment." Opposition health spokeswoman Julia Gillard accused Mr Abbott of trying the "classic grand diversion" to shift public attention from the decline of Medicare and bulk-billing. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |