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AMA President Provides Update on H1N1 Vaccine Rollout Arrangements

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, sent an alert to members this week advising of the latest information on the H1N1 vaccine rollout arrangements.  Click here to view.

AMA Wins Key Changes on Compliance Bill

Persistent AMA lobbying has resulted in important changes to the Health Insurance (Compliance) Bill 2009, which was introduced in Parliament this week.

The Bill gives Medicare Australia the power to obtain documents (including, where necessary, information about patients) from doctors to substantiate Medicare rebates.  Under the draft Bill administrative staff would have been able to view these records.  AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said the AMA has succeeded in ensuring that only medical practitioners employed by Medicare Australia can view the records.

Dr Pesce, commended Human Services Minister, Chris Bowen for addressing other AMA concerns with the original Bill.  Audits of Medicare billing will only be in cases where Medicare Australia has a reasonable concern, rather than conducted randomly, and doctors will be able to seek an internal review of audit decisions instead of using Federal Court processes as originally proposed.  Click to here to read more.

AMA Presents PM with Priority Plan for Action

As part of the National Health Reform Consultation Summit in Canberra this week, the AMA presented the Prime Minister and the Health Minister with a list of health policy priorities for immediate implementation to give Australians a better health system.

The AMA Priority Investment Plan for Australia’s Health System identifies seven key areas of the health system where urgent action will make a real difference for people seeking access to quality health services. 

“We are offering the Government real solutions to real problems,” AMA President, Dr Pesce said. 

For general practice the plan calls for the Government to strengthen the role of general practice and recommends infrastructure support to allow existing general practices to evolve and develop into GP Primary Care Centres with GPs leading teams of co-located health professionals.

The plan to strengthen general practice also covers the provision of additional prevocational and vocational GP training places, support for medical students and other health professional training in general practice, and improved funding arrangements to support the delivery of multidisciplinary care. Click here for more detail.
 
Have Your Say on Health Reform

The Federal Government is considering the reports of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, the Preventative Health Taskforce, and the Draft Primary Health Care Strategy, ahead of developing its health policies for the next election.
 
AMA (NSW) President, Dr Brian Morton, will host a public meeting on primary care reform at a forum for doctors at the Burwood Function Centre, 7-9 Burleigh Street Burwood, from 7.00pm on Tuesday 22 September.  AMA Federal President, Dr Andrew Pesce, and Dr Morton will run a forum on broader health reform at 6.30pm on Thursday 24 September at the John Loewenthal Auditorium at Westmead Hospital, cnr Hawkesbury and Darcy Roads, Westmead.

Doctors wishing to attend should call Kimberley Darby at AMA (NSW) on 02 9349 8822.

PIP Aged Care Incentive

As per our previous advice GP services to residents in aged care facilities must be claimed under the provider number of an accredited practice to count towards the PIP threshold.  We understand that some members may have been unaware of this requirement and missed out on visits being counted.  If you were one please email us at generalpractice@ama.com.au as the AMA is working with Medicare Australia on a possible solution.