Medicare Australia closing Lake Cargelligo and Coonamble booths
27-April-2011
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has called for Medicare Australia to reverse its decision to remove Medicare booths in communities in the Parkes Electorate.
The Medicare booths allow access to basic claiming for regional and remote communities and it has been announced that both Lake Cargelligo and Coonamble are set to have the Medicare booths removed, forcing people in these communities to access Medicare online or over the phone.
“Medicare Australia is going to close these booths with no viable alternative in place, meaning individuals will need to have access to the internet or access to a phone in order to claim Medicare.”
“For many elderly and sick people this is simply unfeasible and the Government needs to step up and ensure these communities do no lose this important service.”
Medicare Australia is set to phase out these booths over the next three years which will mean the closure of over 840 booths in regional and rural Australia.
“The removal of these booths from rural and remote areas just further disadvantages these communities. I have written to the Minister for Community Services Tanya Plibersek to request that she reverse this decision immediately.”