The Turnbull government is putting off plans to change the Medicare safety net until next year, after failing to attract enough support on the Senate crossbench.

The changes were to lower the thresholds needed to access benefits for out-of-hospital services, while capping the amount payable for individual services once these have been reached. Psychiatric, oncology and IVF groups have fiercely opposed them because of concerns they will make services unaffordable for some patients.

Health Minister Sussan Ley has a lot on her plate. Credit:Andrew Meares

The changes would have had to be passed this week - the final parliamentary sitting week of the year - in order to take effect from 1 January, 2016, as planned. They were expected to save the government $266.7 million over five years.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said on Tuesday that the government would be "pausing discussions" on the bill till after reviews on the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Primary Health Care, which are due to be delivered by the end of the year.