Fed: Budget could reveal govt committment to Medicare:PM
PERTH, April 17 AAP - The federal government's commitment to Medicare could be demonstratedin the upcoming budget, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
But the prime minister said the government's commitment would not extend to bulk-billing for all.
"I never say what is in and out of the budget," Mr Howard told radio 6PR.
"But we have been looking at a lot of things in the health area over the past few weeks- we're certainly committed to bulk-billing.
"And we're certainly committed to it in the spirit of the original Medicare arrangement,which always allowed for the fact that not everybody would be bulk-billed."
Mr Howard said the government wanted to provide incentives and assistance to doctorsto keep levels of bulk-billing high.
"And there are a number of other things that we are talking to the medical profession,and others, about at the present time," he said.
"I think that when the package is announced it will be seen as reinforcing the universalelements of Medicare and also providing continuing support for the private options - becauseour system has got those two elements in it."
AAP lk/ph/bwl
KEYWORD: BUDGET03 MEDICARE
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