❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about the potential impact of the Turnbull government's Medicare rebate freeze on emergency department presentations and associated costs in WA hospitals. The Minister states they haven't received specific advice on this matter.
AnsweredQoN 358Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS — MEDICARE
REPAYMENTS
358. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the 1 028 000 episodes of
care budgeted to be provided in Western Australian hospital emergency
departments in 2016–17.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that as a result of the Turnbull government's freeze
on Medicare general practitioner rebates, more GPs will be likely to charge a co-payment
for their services?
(2) Given that
more people will present at emergency departments as a result of this, has the
minister been advised by the department what will be the expected increase in
ED presentations; and, if so, what is the increase and the cost to WA
hospitals?
REPAYMENTS
358. Mr R.H. COOK to the Minister for
Health:
I refer to the 1 028 000 episodes of
care budgeted to be provided in Western Australian hospital emergency
departments in 2016–17.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that as a result of the Turnbull government's freeze
on Medicare general practitioner rebates, more GPs will be likely to charge a co-payment
for their services?
(2) Given that
more people will present at emergency departments as a result of this, has the
minister been advised by the department what will be the expected increase in
ED presentations; and, if so, what is the increase and the cost to WA
hospitals?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) No,
I have not, at this stage at least, been given any advice by the Department of
Health about what may be an anticipated increase in attendances at emergency departments
in Western Australian hospitals. Our hospitals are very well funded, of course,
in part by the commonwealth government but primarily by the Western Australian
government, to provide a very large number of services and also a very high
standard of services. Emergency departments are not the only place where people
can get emergency treatment. Of course, there are GP after-hours clinics and GP
practices themselves, as implied in the question. No, I have not been given any
specific advice to that extent. If there was any change, I imagine it would be
only a gradual change over a period.
I have not, at this stage at least, been given any advice by the Department of
Health about what may be an anticipated increase in attendances at emergency departments
in Western Australian hospitals. Our hospitals are very well funded, of course,
in part by the commonwealth government but primarily by the Western Australian
government, to provide a very large number of services and also a very high
standard of services. Emergency departments are not the only place where people
can get emergency treatment. Of course, there are GP after-hours clinics and GP
practices themselves, as implied in the question. No, I have not been given any
specific advice to that extent. If there was any change, I imagine it would be
only a gradual change over a period.
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