BUDGET cuts which slice the Medicare rebate for cataract surgery by up to 50 per cent will have long-ranging social consequences. The changes are expected to hit hardest in rural and regional areas, including Tasmania, where there is a greater dependence on Medicare rebates. Tasmanian ophthalmologist Brendan Vote said pensioners would be particularly affected. “The direct effect of these proposed budget changes places the economic burden for health care back on the patient, particularly pensioners,” he said. “Tasmania will be greatly affected by these changes, as the population here is ageing at a greater rate than other parts of Australia.” Independent Ophthalmic Network director Mark Grey said the decision to cut the rebate from $623.70 to $311.85 from November would mean many pensioners would no longer be able to afford the sight-saving surgery. Many ophthalmologists will be unable to perform surgery in rural areas because of the rebate cuts. Other consequences include a greater risk of falls and hip fractures in elderly people as a consequence of poor vision, a greater risk of confusion and depression, and greater congestion in the already stretched public hospital system. Ophthalmologists argue while cataract surgery is a relatively quick procedure, the cost of maintaining and regularly upgrading the highly-specialised equipment is considerable, and absolute precision is required. “We are extremely concerned that the Tasmanian people (our patients) and their elected representatives at both the State and Federal levels are largely unaware of the wide-reaching consequences such a decision will have on the affordability and availability of essential ophthalmic care to the Tasmanian community,” Dr Vote said. “The 50 per cent cut to the Medicare rebate will lead to detrimental changes in the availability of cataract surgery to the Tasmanian community. “This means that the 20-30 per cent of patients without private health insurance who self-fund their surgery privately will now have to find significantly more to pay for their surgery. “Privately insured and DVA patients may also be impacted if those schedules are adjusted, so that many patients may face extra gap payments where currently no gap or minimal gap payments apply.” The cataract rebate was reduced by 40 per cent in 1987 and a further 25 per cent in 1996. About 200,000 cataracts are operated on annually in Australia, with more than 98 per cent of patients being returned to normal vision. This allows them to return to maintain their independence and dramatically decrease the risk of falls. The Department of Health and Ageing has confirmed the government did not consult with the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists about the effects of the rebate cut. |
