Prescription powers and Medicare rebate up for debate as premiers push for healthcare reform

State and territory leaders outline their wishlists before national cabinet meets on Friday

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State and territory leaders will push the commonwealth to restore 50-50 hospital funding and increase the Medicare rebate while New South Wales will champion changes to expose doctors to greater competition.

The premiers’ wishlists come before a national cabinet meeting on Friday to consider the Strengthening Medicare taskforce report, which aims to improve the commonwealth-funded primary care system to take stress off state-funded hospitals.

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