Radio interview, 2CC Breakfast with Stephen Cenatiempo

E&OE transcript
Radio Interview
2CC Breakfast with Stephen Cenatiempo

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Well, last week we mentioned that a number of GP clinics here in Canberra were no longer going to be bulk billing veterans. Now, to give you a background on that, the bulk billing rate, of course, for all Australians is around about that $39 mark; for veterans it’s about 15 per cent more than that. But if you’ve got a veteran’s White Card, you can’t bulk bill at certain GP clinics anymore because GPs are struggling, and they can’t afford to do it because of the way that Medicare is set up.

To talk to us more about this and find out what we can do specifically about the plight of veterans’ in this area is Matt Keogh, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel. Minister, good morning.

MINISTER KEOGH: Good morning, Stephen.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: This is a concern. Obviously, it’s not just happening here in Canberra but a particular focus because we have such a large veteran population here. What are we doing to rectify this situation?

MINISTER KEOGH: Yes, so what we’re seeing here, Stephen, is sort of a reflection within the veteran community of, as you say, a broader issue across the Australian community where we are seeing a decline in bulk billing rates across the country, though it is different in different parts of the country, and that’s something, of course, that we recognised coming into Government. It’s why Minister Butler, the Minister for Health, has set up the Medicare Taskforce to look at what can we do to improve that, if you like, the economic sustainability of primary health providers, GPs in particular, so that they are in a better position to be able to bulk bill their patients, which means they’ll also be in a better position to continue to service veterans’ using their White Card or their Gold Card.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: The problem with that is that the GP network have been saying for quite some time, a simple fix to this would be, well, firstly, to increase the Medicare rebate, but, secondly, allow them to charge a gap payment. But when it comes to veterans’, surely we need to have a more comprehensive program in place to look after the people that have looked after us.

MINISTER KEOGH: And certainly that’s why for a veteran, a GP will receive 115 per cent of the normal Medicare subsidy rate to recognise that there is no capacity to charge that gap fee because the system that has been set up to support our veterans is to make sure that Government is covering that cost of health care. But in addition to that there is also a veterans’ access payment which is paid to GPs in addition to that additional 15 per cent you were talking about before, which is also in recognition of the fact that there is a little bit of additional paperwork that GPs have to complete on occasion when servicing veterans’ under a White Card.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: But 15 per cent is not going to cut it when GPs are effectively telling us that the bulk billing rate is about 50 per cent of what it should be.

MINISTER KEOGH: Yeah, so as I said, it’s 115 per cent plus the additional veteran access payment. But – 

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Which is how much?

MINISTER KEOGH: Across the – it’s $7 in metro areas and about $14 in regional areas, so it’s not an insignificant amount overall. But, as I said before, the broader problem we’ve got to address, and that is what the Minister for Health is looking at in terms of the overall sustainability of our primary health providers, GPs in particular, because improving that across the board will improve the situation for GPs being able to service veterans.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: No, I understand that and that’s great, but I’m talking about veterans specifically here. We know that this is going to have a greater impact on them because they suffer from a whole range of issues that the general population may or may not. As the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs what sort of stop‑gap measures can you put in place to pick up to fill the gap here?

MINISTER KEOGH: Yeah, so I’m working with the Minister for Health about what we can be doing in terms of a broad sense across primary health as well as what we might be able to do to assist veterans’. But really what’s happening here is veterans’ are, if you like, at the pointy end of what is a broader problem. It is not a veteran‑specific problem; it’s just they’re experiencing it as well as the rest of the community are experiencing.

But at the end of the day, there’s 141,000 veterans that hold a White Card or a Gold Card, and it’s only some GPs that are making a business decision to not service those veterans with a White Card or a Gold Card. Now, here in Canberra, which is obviously very important to you and your listeners, there’s already a much lower rate of bulk billing than we see on average across the country and so it’s not surprising that we’re seeing some practices here in particular focus on withdrawing service from veterans’. And, as you say, there’s a significant veteran community here in the ACT, so I completely understand the concern. But there are practitioners that continue to service veterans, and we encourage veterans if their GP has decided to withdraw service, to contact other GPs who may well be very happy to provide service to those veterans’. And if people can’t find them, then people are able to contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for assistance in locating GPs in their area that do service White Card and Gold Card holders.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Yes, look, but they are diminishing and it’s all well and good to say, “That’s only those businesses that have made a business decision,” but these are, you know, these are tough business decisions by medical professionals that would rather not have to make that decision if they didn’t have to.

MINISTER KEOGH: And I’d rather they didn’t make those decisions as well, Stephen. That’s absolutely right, but, as you acknowledge, it is a business decision that some have made and clearly not all have made, and we’re talking about what is a small proportion of the overall patient base for GPs when they’re servicing veterans’. And while some may make that decision, and that’s their right to do so, there are other practitioners that are able to provide and continue to provide that service for our veteran community, which is incredibly important, and in the meanwhile, myself and the Minister for Health are continuing to work together on what are the solutions that are needed across the health system as well as whether there’s anything we need to do specifically to assist with this veteran cohort. 

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Well, why don’t we acknowledge the service that veterans have given our country and say health care is free? 

MINISTER KEOGH: That’s exactly what we do, Stephen. That’s exactly what the White Card and the Gold Card is designed to do and that’s why we pay GPs and other medical practitioners more to provide that service to veterans, and that’s why it’s so disappointing that some of those practitioners have decided to withdraw that service.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: All right. So we’re throwing it back on the GPs. Minister, appreciate your time this morning.

MINISTER KEOGH: Great to be with you, Stephen.

Can I also give all of our female service personnel and veterans’ a big shout‑out on International Women’s Day and thank them for their service to our nation.

STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Indeed. Matt Keogh the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel.

END

Authorised by The Hon Matt Keogh MP

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608