Today it has been revealed that Australian patients are paying 45% more to visit their GP under the Albanese Labor Government.
This astonishing new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows Australian patients are being forced to fork out record amounts to visit their GP.
Under the former Coalition Government, the average percentage of GP fees covered by Medicare was more than 90%. Since the Albanese Government came into power, that average has fallen to 85.62%.
The AIHW has stated that this data shows “The proportion of fees subsidised through the MBS declined over recent months – after 15 years of relative stability.” This research stands in direct contrast to Anthony Albanese’s false claim that his government is ‘strengthening Medicare.’
This new data follows a recent update from the Department of Health which showed that GP bulk billing has dropped 11% under Labor.
At the same time, 2.4 million less GP services were accessed last financial year because of the increasing unaffordability of seeing a GP.
The Albanese Government’s cost-of-living crisis is forcing Australians to choose between going to a doctor and putting food on the table.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that patients are bearing the brunt of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.
“Australians are rightfully getting sick and tired of hearing this government say they are ‘strengthening Medicare’, when they know that it has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor.
“They are feeling the truth of Labor’s failures every time they go to pay at the GP reception desk."
“We know that the more Australians delay seeing a doctor, the more ambulance ramping will continue to worsen. Our healthcare system is paying the price for this government’s negligent approach to the cost-of-living crisis,” Senator Ruston said.
Instead of strengthening Medicare as they promised, all the Albanese Labor Government has done is weaken Medicare.