Opened the debate
Kovacic supported the bill, arguing that veterans' healthcare should be based on clinical need rather than arbitrary financial limits. Kovacic criticised the government's introduction of a $5,000 threshold, describing it as a cap that would require additional approvals for care exceeding that amount. Kovacic highlighted that while provider fees were increasing, the government simultaneously planned significant savings through this limit, which she argued would reduce expenditure on veteran care. Kovacic warned that the measure would disproportionately affect veterans in regional and remote areas who already face limited provider access. The bill seeks to prevent any monetary caps or expenditure-triggered reviews on allied health treatment.