Health

Let registered nurses prescribe some PBS medicines — back it or block it?

This bill would let specially trained and endorsed registered nurses prescribe certain medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with oversight. The government and One Nation argued it improves access to medicine, especially in rural and regional areas; a Coalition senator argued it risks patient safety and could create a two-tier system. The Senate debated it but ran out of time — the debate was interrupted before any vote, so there is no result yet.

Put Medicare's GP bulk-billing incentive payments on a clear legal footing — back it or block it?

This bill creates a clear, permanent legal framework for the Commonwealth's primary care incentive payment programs — worth more than $1.4 billion a year — including the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program, which pays GP clinics extra to bulk-bill. The government says these programs currently run without a dedicated legislative basis, which weakens administration, compliance and integrity checks. Eligibility rules and payment amounts stay the same, and existing participants won't need to reapply. The bill also allows some routine decisions to be handled automatically with review rights, and renames the Health Insurance Act 1973 as the Medicare Act.

All speakers recorded were Labor MPs backing the bill. An amendment moved by the member for Lindsay was rejected 39 votes to 92.

Publish specialist fees and stop insurers repackaging products to dodge premium rules — back it or block it?

This bill does two things to private health care. First, it lets the government publish individual doctors' and specialists' fees and likely out-of-pocket costs on the Medical Costs Finder website, drawing on Medicare, hospital and insurer billing data the government already holds — so patients can compare prices before treatment. Second, it bans "product phoenixing", where an insurer closes a policy and reopens a near-identical one at a higher price to avoid needing the minister's approval for a premium rise. Labor speakers backed the bill strongly. The Coalition said it supports the intent but argued the bill is not ready — raising concerns about data accuracy, a clause giving the department legal immunity for publishing errors, and the approval rules covering too many products. The Coalition said it is not opposing the bill but will push for changes in the Senate. The debate ran about 78 minutes with no vote taken.

Publish what specialists charge and crack down on insurers relaunching products at higher prices — back it or block it?

This bill aims to take the guesswork out of private health costs. It lets the government publish real data on the Medical Costs Finder website showing what individual specialists charge, their out-of-pocket costs, which hospitals they work at, and what insurers cover — drawn from billing data the government already holds, so doctors don't have to upload it themselves. Labor says a voluntary version failed, with fewer than 100 of thousands of eligible specialists sharing fees.

It also bans "product phoenixing" — where an insurer closes a product and reopens a near-identical one at a higher price to dodge scrutiny — by requiring ministerial approval for new products and cuts to cover. Only Labor MPs spoke in the recorded material, all in favour. Crossbench amendments were voted down 71 to 10.

Put Medicare's bulk-billing and other GP incentive payments into law — back it or block it?

This bill writes into law the framework for the Commonwealth's health incentive payment programs — including the bulk-billing practice incentive, payments for GP care in aged care, and schemes to attract doctors to rural areas — which have run for years without a clear statutory basis. It also sets rules for approving programs, reviewing decisions and taking compliance action, and renames the Health Insurance Act as the Medicare Act.

Labor speakers backed it as locking in a record $8.5 billion Medicare investment. The Coalition said it would not oppose the bill but moved an amendment criticising the government's primary care record and referred it to a Senate committee. The debate ran about 88 minutes and was adjourned — no vote taken.

Reject the Senate's move to let podiatrists prescribe PBS medicines and keep the bill to nurses only — back it or block it?

This bill lets appropriately qualified registered nurses prescribe medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the result of more than a decade of work by the nurses board with medical, patient and university groups, and endorsed by all health ministers.

The Senate added an amendment to also allow endorsed podiatrists to prescribe PBS medicines. Health Minister Mark Butler asked the House to reject that add-on, saying the podiatry work is still underway and it is too early to bolt it on. Independent Monique Ryan argued the government is taking too long to expand scope of practice for podiatrists and others and should move in increments. The House voted 90 to 43 to reject the Senate amendments.

Write specialist fee ranges and quality data into the private health cost tool by law — back it or block it?

During detailed debate on a government bill setting up a mandatory Medical Costs Finder for private health, independent MP Monique Ryan moved amendments to lock more detail into the law itself. They would require publishing the spread of specialists' fees (not just an average), flagging doctors who charge far more than peers, and adding quality measures like complication and readmission rates. They would also force the government to publish how fee thresholds are calculated and to report yearly on price trends.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the government shares the goals but wants the detail worked out through consultation with doctors and insurers, not fixed in the Act. The House rejected Ryan's amendments 9 votes to 69.