Senate Medicare Committee report disappointing - AMA
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the majority Senate Committee report has overlooked the central medical workforce issues and largely ignored the submissions made by medical groups, including the AMA, on behalf of doctors and patients and communities.
Dr Glasson said the AMA agrees with the basic conclusion of the report that the Government's Fairer Medicare Package does not go far enough in addressing the access and affordability challenges facing the Australian health system, but rejects many of the recommendations and the reasoning behind them.
"In a nutshell, this is a wasted opportunity and a waste of resources," Dr Glasson said.
"Perhaps the most disappointing aspects of the report are that it fails to acknowledge the significant inadequacy of the MBS patient rebate, and it argues that the GP shortage is simply a maldistribution," Dr Glasson said.
"The medical workforce shortage is a national problem that requires urgent attention.
"There is general agreement that the Medicare patient rebate is too low - as evidenced by the Government's Relative Value Study (RVS) - and that the medical workforce shortage is affecting many Australian communities. The Committee has not addressed the increasing gap payments forced on patients because of the inadequacy of the Medicare patient rebate, which is forcing doctors out of medicine. To ignore these facts is a major oversight.
"Another dangerous hint in the report is tacit support for trials of fund holding. Fund holding is managed care by another name and must be avoided in Australia.
"The AMA supports the Committee's recommendation to reject the General Practice Access Scheme.
"Expansion of practice nurse programs, IT initiatives, and greater Government contribution to public dental health services are worth pursuing.
"We support the safety net recommendation. It provides Australians with the security they need when they are ill.
"But the Report does not address the structural reform necessary to provide the equality of access and the affordability of medical services that Australian patients so desperately need.
"Overall, the Report is yet another effort that has failed to seriously consider the critical medical workforce issues confronting patients in towns and suburbs all over Australia," Dr Glasson said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306