Medicare Rebate Halved for Cataract Patients

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The Rudd Government’s reckless spending and record debt has led them to halve the Medicare rebate offered to people who undergo necessary cataract surgery.

North Queensland based Senator and Opposition spokesman on Northern Australia, Ian Macdonald, said that he was “disappointed that the Government has chosen to target a rebate that currently provides for Australia’s aged pensioners.”

“The vast majority of patients who undergo cataract surgery are seniors. Under the current system those who can’t wait for 3 years on the public waiting lists for surgery can use a private ophthalmologist and Medicare will provide a rebate of approximately $623.00.”
 
“In a move to ‘modernise’ the Medicare system, the Rudd Government has effectively halved the rebate available to these patients, from the 1st of November this year, the rebate will be reduced to approximately $307.00.”
 
“People need to remember that a large number of patients who undergo this type of surgery are pensioners. To short change them, in order to try to pay off their record debt, is a new low for
the current Government.”

“In Townsville a patient can engage a private ophthalmologist to carry out the surgery and the rebate covers about 50 per cent of the cost. By reducing the rebate available, more people will be pushed onto public waiting lists that are already 3 years long.”
 
“It is a sad reflection on the current Government that they would pinch straight from the pockets of our pensioners to try and pay for their own reckless spending and financial mismanagement,”
Senator Macdonald concluded.

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