Optometry Australia is keen to meet with the new federal health minister to outline why a modest 1.6% Medicare indexation increase compared to CPI will leave many optometrists little choice but to charge patients more out-of-pocket fees.
On Monday 7 June, the organisation said it would press to discuss “fairer Medicare indexation” with Mr Mark Butler, the Labor government’s health minister sworn in last week.
The Federal Government has just announced an indexation increase for optometry items of 1.6% which OA said lagged significantly behind the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which rose 5.1% in the past 12 months.
The peak professional body for optometrists said the small 2022 indexation rise fell well short of the real cost of doing business and the cost of living with inflationary pressures brought about by several factors including skyrocketing energy prices, housing prices, fuel, insurance and transportation.
OA CEO Ms Lyn Brodie said the organisation had fought hard to have optometry included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) schedule in 1975, but since 1997 adjustments to the Optometric MBS have continued to significantly lag CPI.
“A freeze in indexation for optometry between 2013 and 2019, plus a 5% cut to MBS rebates introduced by the government in 2015, has resulted in Medicare rebates in real terms in 2022 being a decade behind where they should be today,” she said.
Brodie said the gap between what optometrists can claim in Medicare rebates for patient consultations and the real cost of providing this service has been widening for the past 35 years, “but the real damage has been done in the past 10 years”.
“Optometrists will have no choice but to charge patients more and more out-of-pocket costs. There are already too many Australians who are unable to access the timely care they need and we believe lagging Medicare indexation will contribute to a national eye health crisis,” Brodie said.
“Any increase in fees a patient is asked to pay can result in them delaying, or ignoring, the need for regular eye examinations and this will put the eye health of many at risk.
“With half of Australia’s population already suffering long-term eye conditions, Optometry Australia is doing everything in our power to seek the government’s commitment to reverse, not contribute to, this alarming statistic.”
According to OA, long-term eye conditions place a $16.6 billion economic burden on the Australian economy annually.
Brodie said 90% of vision loss could be prevented or treated with early detection and delaying or ignoring regular eye examinations would lead to rise in insidious and preventable, eye diseases.
“Vision problems and eye disease can occur at any age, which is why regular eye examinations with an optometrist are important. Good vision isn’t just about seeing well, it’s about living well,” she added.
“We will welcome discussing with Mr Butler the type of reforms and funding that is urgently needed to support better access to eye health in Australia.”
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