CUTS TO CATARACT SURGERY AFFECTS LOCALS
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock said the Rudd Labor Government’s cuts to the cataract surgery rebate are a serious matter affecting many constituents.
“Not only did the Rudd Government announce measures to halve the Medicare rebate that patients can claim for cataract surgery, they also capped the Medicare Safety Net – breaking a key election promises,” Mr Ruddock said.
Prior to the 2007 Federal Election, Labor gave an unambiguous commitment that they would not change the Medicare Safety Net. In a joint media release by Mr Rudd and Nicola Roxon on 22 September 2007 it was stated:
“With about one million people each year receiving some cost relief from the safety net, Federal Labor will not put more pressure on family budgets by taking that assistance away.”
With 70 per cent of cataract surgery currently performed in the private system; these changes will drive many older Australians into already overstretched public hospitals.
“It’s unconscionable that a Government that has spent so recklessly should make savage cuts to such an important medical procedure. Not only does cataract surgery help restore vision, as a result, it also reduces the number of falls, fractures and associated hospitalisations,” Philip Ruddock said.
The Coalition has been working closely with the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists with respect to this issue.
The Coalition will continue to work with the ophthalmology associations in responding to the final regulations once they are tabled in Parliament.