Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has condemned the Queensland Government's hospital reform plan, describing it as "illegal" and an "affront to Medicare".

However the Premier, Peter Beattie, is standing firm, saying be believes the system will eventually be rolled out across Australia.

Mr Beattie says while no Queenslander would ever be turned away from a public hospital, he wants privately insured patients to stop using the public system for elective surgery.

The Government is also considering means testing and co-payments for non-urgent surgery.

But Mr Abbott says that contravenes funding arrangements with the Commonwealth.

"This mad cap scheme is completely contrary to Medicare," he said.

"This is illegal under the healthcare agreements, it's an absolute affront to the principles of Medicare."

But Mr Beattie has rejected the criticism, saying he would not be surprised if the new plans were adopted nation-wide.

"The co-payments are consistent with any arrangements that apply anywhere in Australia," he said.

Queensland doctors have welcomed the reforms but health insurance providers and Catholic Health Australia think they are flawed.