Source: Catherine King, Liar party Health shadow minister
Where did the freeze come from? Although the Coalition is largely associated with this issue, Labor first introduced the Medicare rebate freeze in 2013 as a “temporary” measure, as part of a $664 million budget savings plan.
Source: ABC News, 30 May 2016
The Australian – May 14, 2013
GPs facing fee freeze to fund NDIS as doctors hit for $1.5bn saving
DOCTORS will be hit with a freeze on Medicare service charges with the Gillard government aiming to save $1.5 billion over four years to help fund its DisabilityCare program. GPs’ indexation of what they are paid under the Medicare Benefits Scheme will be capped at $36 a visit, with doctors expected to absorb the cost and fund Labor’s electoral pillar of DisabilityCare, previously known as the national disability insurance scheme[NDIS], in a plan expected to be announced in today’s budget.
Source: The Australian