Give Medicare a present - abolish the Private Health Insurance Rebate
On the 20th Birthday of Medicare Greens Health Spokesperson, Senator Kerry Nettle, has agreed with the Prime Minister in identifying the Private Health Insurance Rebate as a key issue for the next election, and called on both the Government and Opposition to abolish it.
"Medicare is a great system that all Australians appreciate and it deserves a good birthday present. The best present the Medicare system could get would be the abolition of the wasteful Private Health Insurance Rebate," Senator Nettle said.
"Twenty years on there is an even greater need for a universal free healthcare system in Australia, but instead this government is happy to waste valuable health dollars undermining Medicare through its subsidy to the private health insurance industry.
"The Greens would like to see an increase in the Medicare Levy along with the abolition of the Private Health Insurance Rebate in order to significantly revamp the public health system.
"The public health system has done a great job over the last 20 years, but its due for an overhaul. This can and should be paid for by diverting the $2.3 billion from the Private Health Insurance Rebate into public health services.
"The Greens are calling for dental services to be provided under Medicare and to invest in ensuring free access to GP consultations. Mental health and public hospital staffing and infrastructure are in urgent need of investment which could come from an increase in the levy."
Evidence presented to the Australian Health Care Summit in Canberra late last month confirmed The Greens' long-standing view that the rebate is an inefficient use of public funds and is undermining what had been a national commitment to equity in the provision of health care based on medical need, not capacity to pay.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
