VMAG Aims and Strategy
The Victorian Medicare Action Group is a coalition of organisations and individuals who are concerned that universal access to health care is being eroded by the reduction in bulkbilling rates and the increase in charges to consumers for GP services.
The reduction in the number of GPs who provide a bulk billing service and the increasing use of Emergency Departments for primary medical care raises serious concerns about access to appropriate and effective health interventions, particularly for people on low incomes and in underprivileged regions of Victoria. As GP services become unaffordable, the VMAG is concerned that the integrity of Medicare is being undermined, and is being replaced by a two tiered system of health care. A comprehensive policy response with commitment from the key stakeholders has been hampered by an ongoing argument between the AMA and the federal Government about whether the decline in bulk billing is caused by inadequate rebates and high practice costs for GPs or by the maldistribution of doctors.
The VMAG believes that Medicare needs to be strengthened to ensure access to affordable and timely health care. This will require government intervention, with support from consumer and professional bodies, to halt the decline in bulk billing rates. It is also an opportunity to address outstanding issues around access to after hours medical care and greater support for primary health care services that can focus on evidence based prevention and early intervention.
Purpose of the VMAG
The VMAG will focus on access to bulk billing in general practice, as a vital component of our universal health care system.
The purpose of the group includes:
- Developing a coalition to advocate at a local and state and to support National Medicare Alliance at a national level
- Providing a forum for discussion about issues impacting on access to health care
- Raising awareness and encouraging debate in the community about access to health services in Victoria
- Supporting research and analysis of trends in access to health care, with a particular focus on the impact on disadvantaged groups within the community
Membership of the VMAG
Membership is open to all interested individuals and organisations. We are actively encouraging participation from people involved in health and community services, consumer advocacy groups, local government and Church based-service providers.
VMAG Strategy
The VMAG will focus initially on:
1. Collecting case studies about the impact of the decline in access to GPs who provide a bulk billing service, and related issues around the introduction of fees for general practice services and access to after-hours primary care.
2. Distributing these case studies through the networks of people and organisations involved in the VMAG in order to build community understanding of the importance of maintaining universal access to medical care. It is important that we develop broad agreement on those aspects of the health system that must be maintained and to identify areas which need reform.
3. Meeting with government and opposition MPs to raise concerns about the impact of current policy on Medicare and to develop bilateral support for models of health care that meet the community's needs.
4. Through the media, participating in public debates about the health care system, government policy and funding priorities, and shaping the health care system to meet the needs of consumers, especially those most disadvantaged by current arrangements.
