FED: Doctors rebel against gap deal report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1998
FED: Doctors rebel against gap deal report

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - Doctors have reportedly rebelled against the Howard governments $1.4
billion plan to cut health fund premiums and reduce gap payments, less than 24 hours after a
breakthrough deal cleared the Senate.

The Weekend Australian newspaper reported that the Australian Medical Association yesterday
said it was only willing to cooperate with part of the governments plan to reduce gap
payments, prompting a fierce attack from key Independent Senator Brian Harradine.

Senator Harradine was pivotal in pushing the deal through parliament. He threatened to
force further legislative changes to health insurance if the doctors did not agree to
eliminate gap payments.

The Weekend Australian quoted AMA president David Brand as saying doctors would support the
governments plan to provide fund members with information on gap payments but would resist
"unfair" contracts, which involved getting rid of the gap.

The row came as Health Minister Michael Wooldridge indicated yesterday that the
commonwealth would also move to pressure the states to introduce no-gap products for some
private patients treated in public hospitals, the newspaper said.

Under the governments plan, health funds would be required to offer by July 2000 policies
that either specified the gap between hospital bills and health cover, or eliminated it
altogether.

AAP cdh/ao

KEYWORD: INSURANCE AMA

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