The national doctor's association is urging Labor to agree to an across-the-board rise in the Medicare levy to fund the national disability insurance scheme.
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It argues federal "governments must commit to fund the NDIS to ensure its viability", as president Michael Gannon pointed to opposition's refusal to back a levy rise across all tax brackets.
But Labor leader Bill Shorten has rejected the claim, accusing the Australian Medical Association of being using as a "pawn" by the coalition government.
The government wants to increase the levy by 0.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent from July 2019, but Labor only supports a rise for those earning more than $87,000 a year.
"It is disappointing because we want to see this scheme, which should be celebrated by both sides of politics, we want to see it implemented," Dr Gannon told The Australian on Thursday.
When she was Labor prime minister, Julia Gillard introduced a 0.5 per cent rise in the levy to two per cent for the NDIS.
"I don't agree with the AMA at all," Mr Shorten told reporters in Perth.
The Labor leader said now was not the time for the government to be pursuing corporate tax cuts.
"Running a government is all about priorities," he said.
"Mr Turnbull says the only way you can look after people with disabilities is people on $50,000-$60,000 paying more tax I say wrong, wrong, wrong Malcolm."
The AMA described the scheme as one of the most significant reforms in Australia since the introduction of Medicare.
It acknowledged the NDIS is not yet operating completely as intended, due to funding concerns and problems with eligibility and assessments.
"However, as with other major reforms, the AMA recognises the need to balance reasonable criticisms of the NDIS without undermining either confidence in, or integrity of, the NDIS," it said in a research paper said.
Australian Associated Press
