The GP Co-Payment: A Short Postmortem and a New Research Agenda on Medicare

Melbourne Institute Policy Brief No. 01/15

Date: 2015

Author(s):

Anthony Scott

Abstract

The aim of this Policy Brief is to show what the debate about the GP co-payment has revealed about the state of evidence-based policy in Australia. The co-payment debate has highlighted the central role played by price signals and their impact on health care costs and population health. It has also highlighted how little research existed to inform the co-payment debate, and any future changes to Medicare. A new research agenda around Medicare is required and should be a high priority for the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

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