DEFENCE Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon says "irresponsible" opposition claims that soldiers wounded in Afghanistan are at risk of receiving substandard care are creating confusion.
Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston says soldiers are running the risk of receiving substandard care under a new defence health services contract which pays specialists far less than going rates.
Mr Snowdon denies this and says those in the military will receive the highest quality care.
In July, the Department of Defence signed a $1.3 billion four-year contract with Medibank Health Solutions to provide health care services for personnel across Australia.
That includes health services on and off bases, including access to specialists.
By consolidating a large number of small health service agreements into one large agreement, Defence aims to save more than $100 million a year.
Senator Johnston said on Thursday a large number of health specialists, particularly orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists, psychologists and psychiatrists, had complained that the proposed fees were so far below their usual rates that they would refuse to provide these services.
He believed that meant Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel would end up being treated by less skilled practitioners.
"I don't get this - why would you lower the standards for personnel coming back from combat and it's not saving any money?" Senator Johnston asked reporters.
"This is counterproductive."
But Mr Snowdon said there would be no reduction in health care entitlements for ADF members.
"Our servicemen and women will continue to receive the highest quality of health care services," he said in a statement.
The new health services agreement contained stronger monitoring and quality assurance measures, he said.
"Senator Johnston's irresponsible comments have the potential to undermine commercial negotiations between Medibank and health providers," Mr Snowdon said.
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