Health Insurance Amendment To Be Considered By Senate For Working Australians

As per the Bill, the patients would pay more for private obstetric services and assisted reproductive technologies, known as IVF

The Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Bill 2009 is about to be considered by the Senate. Meanwhile, the AMA has called on the Government to make public the safety net economic modelling that comprises a policy which will make medical services expensive for working Australians – reported in Med India.

As per the Bill, the patients would pay more for private obstetric services and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), better known as IVF.

Dr. Andrew Pesce, AMA president stated that the Government had made some concessions following lobbying by the medical profession, but the changes do not go far enough to ease the financial burden on families. The AMA has called on the Government to withdraw this Bill until it releases the modelling that has inspired a policy that will hurt innocent families at a time of widespread economic uncertainty, and properly consults with the medical profession.