The Australian Medical Association has launched an online petition as part of its campaign to convince the Government to restore funding for GP mental health services through Medicare under the Better Access Program.

 

The Government reduced the Program by more than $400 million in the May Budget, and from November, Medicare patient rebates for GP mental health services will be cut by 50 per cent.

 

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said the cuts will affect vulnerable patients and make access to vital GP services less affordable.

 

“People with mental illness will either have to pay more to see their family doctor for vital mental health care, advice and referrals, or they may be forced to stop seeing their doctor altogether.

 

“Medicare will now treat people with mental illness less favourably than people with a physical ailment, with rebates for GP Mental Health Plans dropping to between 10 per cent and 50 per cent lower than GP Management Plans for other chronic illness.

 

An independent review of the Better Access Program conducted by the Centre for Health Policy and Programs concluded that the program:

  • improved patient access to mental health services;
  • achieved positive outcomes for patients with mental illness;
  • provided affordable access to GP mental health services, with little or no out-of-pocket costs; and
  • was cost effective.

The petition is being circulated to the AMA’s 27,000 members, their patients, and to the general public, and can be found on the AMA website at http://ama.com.au/node/6870.