Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is gearing up for another federal election fight over Medicare, accusing the federal government of trying to buy the silence of doctors with its May budget.
"It's like cash for no comment," he said on Friday of the plan to gradually thaw the Medicare rebate freeze.
Mr Shorten told the Australian Medical Association national conference in Melbourne costings by the Parliamentary Budget Office revealed the government was saving $3.2 billion by not lifting the freeze immediately.
Instead of putting $735 million back into Medicare this year, it was only providing $9 million.
Mr Shorten accused the government of only taking action on Medicare because it almost lost the 2016 federal election on the issue under pressure from Labor.
"I believe the government has got a calculus here - what is the minimum they can pay to make healthcare issues go away as an election point?" he told the powerful doctors lobby.
"Nine million dollars is their attempt to keep the system silent."
Labor's so-called "Mediscare" election campaign, combined with fierce campaigning from doctors against the freeze on rebates the government pays for services like GP visits almost cost the coalition last year's election.
But despite doctors having welcomed the government's plan to gradually lift the freeze, Mr Shorten suggested health would remain at the forefront of Labor's campaign at the next federal election.
"I promise you that at the next election, we will demonstrate not only our words, we will properly fund healthcare," he said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt rejected claims the lifting of the freeze was hush money.
"If he wants to attack the AMA I think that is a vile thing for him to do," he told reporters at the conference.
