David Richmond said he believed the plan to charge a $5 fee to everybody who visits a GP, apart from children under 16 and the elderly, is "poorly thought out" and will offer no long term benefit.

"If the government thinks this is the solution for the budget deficit then they are sorely mistaken. I really hope this is just something they have presented in the lead-up to Christmas and a real solution will come next year," Mr Richmond said.

"I really find it hard to believe this proposal would get through the senate and the plan to introduce it by regulation, like they did with fuel, is wrong."

Under the original scheme, anyone visiting a GP would have had to pay $7, with $5 going to a medical research fund and the remaining $2 going to the practice. Now the rebate being paid to doctors will be cut to $5 and they will have to decide whether to absorb the cost or pass it on.

In addition, GPs would only receive the standard rebate if a consultation lasts at least 10 minutes, an attempt by the government to ensure patients receive a proper level of care.

The Australian Medical Association have described the new scheme as a mixed bag.

AMA president, Associate Professor Brian Owler said the removal of children and the elderly was a step in the right direction.

"We are pleased that concession card holders, children under 16, and residents of aged care facilities will not be subject to reduced Medicare rebates for general practitioner services," Professor Owler said.

"And we are happy that there will be no changes to Medicare rebates and bulk billing incentives for pathology and diagnostic imaging.

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"However, we remain disappointed that rebates for GP services for everyone else will be cut by $5. This comes on top of a freeze on Medicare patient rebates until July 2018. This means that, by 2018, Medicare rebates for many services will have been frozen for almost six years, while inflation continues to rise."

The peak Aboriginal health organisation, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), has expressed their concern the policy is effectively a cut to Aboriginal health services.

The president of NACCHO, which represents the Dubbo Aboriginal Medical Practice, Matthew Cooke, said most of their facilities would choose to absorb the $5.

"Many Aboriginal people do not fit in the exemption categories but still have low disposable incomes and can ill-afford to pay extra for their often complex medical needs and repeat appointments," Mr Cooke said.

"Our services won't jeopardise the incredible gains made by adding a reason for their patients to put off their visit or not come in at all.

"The co-payment would be defunding Aboriginal health services when what we need is greater investment at this less costly end of the health system. We are now likely to see more people present at emergency departments of public hospitals to avoid the co-payment."

Parkes MP Mark Coulton defended the changes, saying the government has listened to community concern but the new system would still ensure Medicare remained sustainable. He said some changes would have benefits for patients.

"Addressing the issue of 'six minute medicine' by encouraging doctors to spend more time with patients will mean better health outcomes for patients," Mr Coulton said.