Australia : The Health Insurance Commission (HIC) is asking child abuse victims to pay back Medicare rebates received for treatment related to their abuse.
The issue was raised by a Tasmanian man, Steve Fisher, who was sexually abused by an Anglican priest in the early 1980s. Mr Fisher's claim for compensation is still being processed by the Church.
A letter from HIC stipulates he is required to repay Medicare rebates for treatment received as a result of the abuse if the compensation amount exceeds $5000.
A spokesman for the Commission says the body is simply implementing Government policy and any requests to review or relax the policy are a matter for Health Minister, former Catholic priest Tony Abbott.
A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott says the Health Minister is on holiday and cannot be contacted.
Source: ABC
The issue was raised by a Tasmanian man, Steve Fisher, who was sexually abused by an Anglican priest in the early 1980s. Mr Fisher's claim for compensation is still being processed by the Church.
A letter from HIC stipulates he is required to repay Medicare rebates for treatment received as a result of the abuse if the compensation amount exceeds $5000.
A spokesman for the Commission says the body is simply implementing Government policy and any requests to review or relax the policy are a matter for Health Minister, former Catholic priest Tony Abbott.
A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott says the Health Minister is on holiday and cannot be contacted.
Source: ABC
posted by Susanna Duffy @ 9:16 AM
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