The NSW Baird government cancelled legislation requiring registered nurses 24/7 for high needs residents in nursing homes despite a NSW Upper House Inquiry finding the legislation should be retained with minor amendments.

Letters were sent to the new Premier requesting  reversal of the Baird government decision for a number of reasons including the welfare of residents.

Email NSW Premier to Reinstate Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes

• The first letters went to the NSW Premier on 23/2 but when voters went to the polls in three by-elections on 8/4,  there had been no response addressing the issues that were raised.
• The Premier had ample information at hand from the comprehensive Upper House Inquiry findings that supported retaining the legislation.

Join in with the Save Medicare group to help draw attention to the many attacks on Medicare including those carried forward from previous budgets.

The May Day rally is on Sunday the first of May at 11am, Belmore Park, Sydney. We would like to have a strong Save Medicare contingent marching at it on what is the traditional day of workers’ rights. More info can be found here: Sydney May Day March 2016.

The next Save Medicare organising meeting will be on Tuesday the 5th of April at 6pm at Unions NSW (377 Clarence St, Sydney). Please come along to discuss how we can take the campaign forward and beat these cut,s and the Turnbull Government. We can win.

THESE CUTS ARE KILLING US: End Healthcare Austerity

– RALLY SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20th, 1PM, SYDNEY TOWN HALL.

The Turnbull Government is reducing funding for pathology tests – this could lead to payments of at least $30 for pap smears, and urine and blood tests.The Federal Government’s efforts to save $650 million will put lives at risk.

Cuts to bulk-billing for pathology services will affect MRIs, x-rays, blood and urine tests, ultrasounds and pap-smears.The cuts are particularly harmful for women, people with a disability, working class and poor people, and anybody with chronic health issues.
This means pap smears, blood and urine tests, MRIs and X-Rays are all unlikely to be bulk-billed.
This would cost some patients hundreds of dollars in up-front fees, which the Medicare rebate would only partially cover.
For example, currently the Medicare rebate for cytology tests for cancer ranges from around $20 to $220. If these aren’t bulk billed then the patient has to pay an amount equal to the whole of the Medicare rebate plus however much extra the pathology provider decides to charge, and can only claim back the rebate afterwards.
People who need multiple tests will have to pay the fee each time.
This rebate is only available to providers if they bulk bill and there is no cap on how much providers are allowed to charge once they stop bulk billing.

The continuing Medicare rebate freeze will be the equivalent of charging an additional $8.43 copayment per non-concessional patient consultation in 2017/2018 dollars.
The rebate freeze is pressuring GPs, Optometrists, Physiotherapists and other health professionals to charge more and to abandon bulk billing.

The government is talking about privatising the delivery of Medicare rebates.
The privatisation of public service delivery will mean taxpayer money going into the pockets of private providers for worse service after profits are extracted.
Your confidential information will be in the hands of profit driven companies and possibly held overseas.

The Federal government has cut $50 billion out of grants for hospitals. State governments cannot easily replace this funding.

Join the Save Medicare contingent on 20th February in Sydney to fight for a well-funded public and universal health system, paid for through progressive taxation. This is not only the most equitable way to fund primary healthcare, it is also the most effective and efficient.

Sign the #thesecutsarekillingus petition here: www.change.org/thesecuts

Sydney event: https://www.facebook.com/events/125663497809971/
Melbourne event: https://www.facebook.com/events/168635080164318/
Geelong event:https://www.facebook.com/events/483986731807350/
Adelaide event: https://www.facebook.com/events/497916927055345/
Newcastle event: https://facebook.com/events/1133658049980037
Brisbane event: https://www.facebook.com/events/652340224908325/
Canberra event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1546663575624770/
Perth event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1067085269989535/

Find out more about attacks on Australia’s health care:
How Health Cuts affect YOU
News: http://savemedicare.org/category/news/
Trans Pacific Partnership and ISDS News: http://savemedicare.org/category/trans-pacific-partnership-and-isds/
Main Page: http://savemedicare.org/

—

Public Forum 18th November, NSW Parliament House, Sydney, speakers include

Jon Edwards, Doctors without Borders (MSF): Access to Medicines

Dr Patricia Ranald, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network: Overview of the TPP and foreign investor rights to sue governments

for details and rsvp, places are limited.

AFTINET Forum

Join Save Medicare Sydney from Midday, Wednesday 4th, at the top of Martin Place to March for universal healthcare and celebrate our win against the GP co-payment.  Click the image below for a printable pdf containing all the pages of the leaflet.