Katie Lahey That’s no way to treat patients
Letters editor, The Australian
Katie Lahey of Business Council Australia asserts “the tussle over the proposed reduction in Medicare’s cataract operation rebates provides important insight into the way in which healthcare reform is being pursued”. (‘That’s no way to treat patients’, 13/10.)
I had cataract operations in July last year, with excellent results. The out-of-pocket expenses of $760 for each eye were no obstacle. However, the taxation accountant suggested I should total my expenses to see if I may qualify for a rebate.
It’s easy to log into HBA and get a listing. And for the exercise, I want to see what has been billed to Medicare. Consumers can log into the Medicare web-site by passing through stringent security gates to get access to some of the relevant information. But, in order to receive a listing of items billed for a specific time period, e.g., last financial year, it’s necessary to submit signed applications by mail.
Why cannot Medicare let us have access to all our data, without the extra bother? It seems quite daft, not to mention irritating.
Is the architecture and business practice at Medicare a stumbling-block to consumers trying to make informed decisions about their own health care?
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