The Turnbull government insists a new multi-billion dollar fund will guarantee the future of Medicare, amid claims it's merely an accounting trick.
Treasurer Scott Morrison on Thursday introduced legislation to parliament that will ensure proceeds from the Medicare levy - minus the portion set aside for the national disability insurance scheme - is paid into the fund annually.
It will be topped up with money collected via personal income tax to cover the cost of the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
"The government is guaranteeing the MBS and PBS so that all Australians can continue to access timely and affordably healthcare and medicines into the future, proving the deceit that was put to the Australian people by the Labor party at the last election," Mr Morrison told MPs.
Labor campaigned heavily on health funding during the 2016 campaign, which contributed the to government deciding in the May budget to ease the freeze on Medicare rebates and set up the fund.
In 2017/18, $33.8 billion will be credited to the fund - about $12.1 billion from the Medicare levy and $21.7 billion from personal income tax receipts.
The amount will be adjusted at every budget update, Mr Morrison said.
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