2010 election promise quietly gone

THE cost of specialist healthcare will soar for millions of Australians from Tuesday under cost-cutting changes to the Federal Government's beleaguered Telehealth scheme.

And doctors will have to mothball millions of dollars worth of new computer equipment. The geographical changes will save the Government $128.5 million on the $620 million scheme which was the centrepiece of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's 2010 election campaign launch.

Dr Hambleton said he had received many complaints from doctors upset their patients may be put at risk.
"I've had doctors call me to say they've had patients set up to do Telehealth with psychiatrists, for example, who bulk bill who now simply won't get access to those services," he said.

Meanwhile, GPs in reclassified areas who have received rebates of up to $6000 to install Telehealth-equipped computers in clinics now say the equipment is virtually useless.

Health is a popular subject for loud election campaigning, but very quiet when it is dropped.