CONTROVERSIAL legislation giving Medicare the ability to seize patient records has been stopped in its tracks by the ongoing debacle over cataract rebates.
Yesterday, the Federal Government was forced to halt debate on the Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009 until next year, because both sides of Parliament could not agree on amendments.
The Bill would have allowed Medicare to obtain documents from doctors to substantiate Medicare rebates, which includes handing over private and personal patient details if necessary as evidence for auditing of Medicare claims.
The government wanted to implement the new laws from 1 January 2010, but it now appears it will have to wait until February at the earliest.
The problems arose when the Federal Opposition tacked on two amendments to...
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