The Australian Medical Association predicts many doctors will be caught out by a change quietly made by the Abbott government two days before Christmas that will cut the Medicare rebates which apply for short consultations for one class of doctors.

AMA president Brian Owler said the last-minute change, which will take effect on January 19, is proof that the government's second attempt at overhauling Medicare was "rushed" and "poorly thought out".

AMA President Brian Owler talks to media at Parliament House in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

On December 9, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and then-health minister Peter Dutton announced the government would abandon its original budget plan for a $7 fee to see the doctor and unveiled a replacement proposal which included cuts to Medicare rebates for visits of between five and 10 minutes.

A fact sheet distributed to explain the proposals said the change would not apply to the Medicare items used by non-vocationally registered medical practitioners, who are doctors who have not completed GP specialisation.