Ear, nose and throat surgeries and diagnostic imaging are among the first services that could face the axe in an overhaul of Medicare.
Health Minister Sussan Ley has slated 23 items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for removal, reports Sky News.
She says the 23 items have cost $6.8 million in the past year when used 52,500 times and that the items have been drawn up after consultation with doctors.
“These twenty three items have been advised to us by doctors themselves.”
“This isn’t the government, this isn’t the department of health, this isn’t a hit list that I might have; this is actually sensible work.”
Gastroenterology, obstetrics and thoratic medicine services have also been thrust onto the chopping block.
Ms Ley said a task force reviewing the 5700 MBS items would seek further advice before scrapping the first 23 items.
