The federal Health Minister has given a slight inkling that there may be room to move on some upcoming changes to the health budget.

Doctors were able to put their widespread concern with new budgetary measure directly to the minister over the weekend, when he spoke at the Australian Medical Associations' annual conference in Canberra.

There has been no end to the back and forth over a $7 Medicare co-payment policy in particular, with the Federal Government blaming the need for the fee on the former Labor government, members of which say the current government has lied, back-flipped and may be willing to change its tune again.

Figures from the Government and Opposition traded verbal blows over the plan this week.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been criticised for reversing his view on the best way to make more money for healthcare costs, changing from loudly supporting bulk-billing to now making patients pay on an individual, per-visit basis.

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Dr Steve Hambleton says some people genuinely cannot afford an extra $7 fee.

“There needs to be a range of discussion had with government about how you solve the problem,” Dr Hambleton told the ABC over the weekend.

“One solution's an exemption and certainly an exemption for part of the population might be something that would be, could be considered,” he said

Dr Hambleton asked the Health Minister directly.

“If I can ask you minister, many of our patients are from low socio-economic areas with very limited cash flows and some with limited capacity to manage their money...” he said at the AMA conference.

“ ...young single mothers, elderly people on government pensions, people with severe and enduring mental illness, people with dementia and residential aged care and Indigenous people. Do you think it's realistic for medical practitioners to collect any co-payment from these people, is there scope for a better safety-net for these people?”

“Well Steve we're happy to continue the conversation with the AMA,” Health Minister Peter Dutton replied.

“I'm not sure that anybody could successfully argue that the conversation has finished. I think it is just the start, but it is important ultimately that we have a sustainable system.”