nswnma fed budget cuts lobbying kit

Authorised by B.Holmes, General Secretary, NSW

NMA

2015 Federal Budget Cuts loBBying kit

save medicare#coPayNoway

www.nswnma.asn.au


On Budget night, 13 May 2014, the federal government launched a devastating assault on Australia’s universal health care system and with it, an attack particularly on our most vulnerable citizens – the sick and the poor.

The introduction of a $7 fee to visit a bulk-billing GP could prevent many in New South Wales from accessing health care or force them to visit a hospital emergency department for their health needs – placing even more pressure on an already stretched system.

Doctors and health economists have also warned co-payments for GP visits could end up costing more than $7 as bulk-billing clinics attempt to recoup costs caused by charging patients.

Patients will also be charged $7 for blood, urine and other pathology tests and X-rays, up to $1000 for MRIs and other medical imaging tests – most of which are currently bulk billed.

In addition, the federal government has increased co-payments for pharmaceuticals at a faster rate than that of inflation, undermining access to cheap and efficient medicine.

In a move that could see billions of dollars of funding slashed, the federal government has also turned its back on the National Partnership Agreements – walking away from a commitment that no state would be worse off and a commitment to provide 50% of growth funding from 2017/18 state budget.

In NSW, while the Baird government claims to have absorbed the initial cuts in its current budget, there are still fears shortfalls in Commonwealth health funding will continue to cut deep into the future.

Scrapping Medicare Locals at a time when local communities need more, not less specialised preventative health care services, is a further demonstration that the individual health of all Australians is less important to this federal government than the budget bottom line.

These are just some of a raft of health-related budget cuts included in the 2014-15 federal Budget, which if passed, will further disadvantage all Australians.

We’re calling on the Senate to reject key aspects of the federal government’s budget –

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Call your New South Wales Senators

Before the federal Budget measures can be fully implemented, they must pass the Senate.

We need to contact Australian Senators and urge them to reject the federal Budget.

Enclosed with this lobbying kit is the NSWNMA’s submission provided to Australian Senators regarding the Medicare co-payment and other health-related budget measures.

The introduction of co-payments to access GP services cannot be allowed to pass the Senate, neither can the raft of other health related cuts contained in the federal Budget.

We cannot let the $7 co-payment divert all our attention from the many other health related budget cuts the federal government is seeking to introduce, which will further disadvantage our most vulnerable citizens.

You can use the list on the last page of this kit, as well as the NSWNMA’s submission, to inform the Senators of your concerns.

interested in doing more?You could also consider writing a letter or text to the Editor of your local newspaper. Go to www.nswnma.asn.au for more information. If you have Facebook, you can also like us at facebook.com/nswnma

Together we’re taking a stand to ensure no one gets left behind.

Australian workers contribute to Medicare – our health safety net – in each and every pay packet. Medicare is the fairest way to ensure health care for all is based on need and not ability to pay.

If introduced, the federal government’s 2014-15 Budget cuts could spell an end to our universal health care system, and with it a decent and fair society.

Thanks for taking a stand with us!

Like us on

facebook.com/nswnma


New South Wales SenatorsSenator Doug CameronT (02) 4751 4288E [email protected]

Senator Sam DastyariT (02) 9326 5987E [email protected]

Senator John FaulknerT (02) 9719 8100E [email protected]

Senator Concetta Fierravanti-WellsT (02) 4226 1700E [email protected]

Senator Bill HeffernanT (02) 9357 2600E [email protected]

Senator David LeyonhjelmE [email protected]

Senator Fiona NashT (02) 6382 3400E [email protected]

Senator Deborah O’NeillT (02) 4367 4565E [email protected]

Senator Marise PayneT (02) 9687 8755E [email protected]

Senator Lee RhiannonT (02) 9211 9523E [email protected]

Senator Arthur SinodinosT (02) 9223 4388E [email protected]

Senator John WilliamsT (02) 6721 4500E [email protected]

key tips For Calling a senator

c Ask to speak to the Senator, and if they’re not available you can leave a message with their staff.

c Indicate that you would like the Senator to reject the 2014-15 federal Budget measures.

c You could ask that they email you to let you know which way the Senator voted, to show they are accountable for their actions.


AT A GLANCE – THE 2014-15 FEDERAL HEALTH BUDGET

c $50 billion cut from new funding for health over the next decade

c A co-payment of $7 for the first 10 visits to a GP

c Hospitals will be allowed to charge for emergency presentations which can be treated by GPs

c A $7 charge will be added to the cost of blood and urine and other pathology tests, X-rays, MRIs and other medical imaging tests

c Medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will be more expensive

c Funding for public dental services will be cut by $390 million across the nation

c The cost of seeing a medical specialist will rise because a freeze on Medicare rebates will be imposed and specialists will raise the fees they charge to patients to keep pace with inflation

c The wait time to access Medicare funded eye checks will increase from two to three years, while the Medicare rebate for access to optometrist services will be cut

c Low income earning families who receive the family tax benefit will be $46 more out of pocket for accessing health care before they qualify for the safety net

c All 61 Medicare Locals will be scrapped and replaced by smaller Primary Health Networks.

c Uni fees to rise and students will be worse off as HELP (HECS) debt to attract real interest rate, repayment threshold cut. Go to www.nteu.org.au/degreemortgage for more information.

We call on our Senators to reject the 2014-15 federal Budget.

The same agenda that drives the NSW government also drives the Abbott government, where the budget bottom line is prioritised over important public health services that benefit all Australians.

Health care in NSW is a right, not a privilege – the NSWNMA will fight to keep it that way

nswnma fed budget cuts lobbying kit

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