Patients with a chronic disease management plan, those in aged care, children, and concession card holders will be exempt under the deal the Health Minister Peter Dutton has publicly said he is “seriously” considering.
The government will also have to abandon its plans to slash the Medicare rebate by $5 under the AMA blueprint, a move that would make it easier for all doctors to continue bulk billing their remaining patients.
The current ten paid visit limit that was to apply to pensioners and children under the government’s plan would be abolished, they would be exempted from the fee entirely.
And AMA president Professor Brian Owler has admitted the government will make virtually no savings if it adopts the plan.
The government faces an uphill battle getting the controversial $7 fee through the Senate with The Greens, Labor and the Palmer United Party opposed to the measure.