Resource Material

Corporatisation of Medical Practice - Decision Support Kit for Doctors

This publication is aimed at general practitioners and specialists thinking of a corporate engagement and is not designed to be either pro- or anti- corporate models of practice. It has been designed to accommodate both the casual and informed reader as well as those doctors wanting a more detailed study of particular topics.

The kit is divided into six parts: general issues, contractual documentation, sale of your existing practice, practising under the corporate umbrella, life and practice after the corporate, and the kit in a nutshell. The final part is a summary of the essential aims of informed involvement in the corporatisation process. The kit is available on the AMA website at /web.nsf/topic/resources-corporatisation-kit or by email request to workplace@ama.com.au

Guidelines on Service Contracts Between Doctors and Medical Practice Principals
This publication provides practical information for doctors who work in private practice on a sessional or contract basis or who run medical practices and employ or contract doctors to work for them. It is available at www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/tag/wpdguidelinesservicecontracts or by email request to workplace@ama.com.au

Medical Indemnity

A comparative table of information about the products offered by Australia's medical defence organisations is available at www.ama.com.au//node/3805

AMA Privacy Kit

The kit contains proforma patient privacy information pamphlets and a waiting room privacy notice to assist practitioners with immediate privacy compliance, until they are in a position to develop their own privacy policy and documentation. Further supplementary material is available to members, as follows:

1. Sample employee confidentiality agreement
2. Guidance in relation to Diabetes Registers and privacy compliance
3. Suggested privacy information for the back of accounts of doctors who do not necessarily attend their patients
4. Processing Access Request Information Sheet and Tips on Access
5. Sample only Consent form
6. Website Privacy Statement and Policy
7. Summary of NPPs and obligations and some definitions under the Privacy Act

AMA members can down load a copy of the Privacy Kit and the supplementary materials. Divisions and Colleges can purchase multiple copies of the AMA Privacy Kit from the Federal AMA for distribution to non-AMA members, and non-AMA members are welcome to purchase multiple copies of the Patient Privacy Information pamphlets direct from the AMA's Federal Office by telephoning (02) 6270 5400 or by downloading the facsimile order form from /node/3728

Privacy Resource Handbook

The AMA has developed this Resource Book to help doctors comply with the Privacy Act 1988(Cth), as amended, which affects all doctors practising in the private sector with effect from 21 December 2001. It is available at /node/3728 or from the AMA's Federal Office at a cost of $20 by telephoning (02) 6270 5400.

Privacy Kit for Private Sector Mental Health Service Providers

Providers of mental health services have indicated concern about the impact of the application of the National Privacy Principles on patients and clinical practice, particularly in relation to issues of competency in obtaining consent, the importance of delivering holistic treatment and care, and obligations to provide patients with access to their personal information.

The kit is designed to assist mental health service providers to reconcile and overcome any perceived difficulties or ethical dilemmas that may arise in the treatment and care of people with a mental health illness or disorder. The kit is available at /node/3853

Certificates Certifying Illness

The purpose of this position statement is to clarify the responsibilities of medical practitioners, employers and employees regarding certificates certifying illness ('sickness certificates'). It is available at /web.nsf/doc/SHED-5FT43S and also appears in the AMA's publication entitled Policy Resolutions and Position Statements provided to new members (updates may be obtained from the AMA's Federal Office by telephoning (02) 6270 5400).

AMA List of Medical Services and Fees

The List indicates fees which the AMA considers are fair and reasonable and appropriate for medical practitioners to charge in relation to a range of services. It also contains other fee-related information useful to medical practitioners. The List is provided for guidance only.

The List is published on 1 November each year and is updated on 1 May each year. AMA members are entitled to a free copy of the List, while others may purchase it. Further information can be found under the "Medical Fees Book Updates" section listed under "Resources" heading at the AMA's website or by telephoning (02) 6270 5496.

GST Information

The AMA has prepared resources for doctors to help them through the implications of the GST for their practice. These are available at www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/topic/resources-gst

The Simplified Billing User Guide

Information to help private health funds and billing agents submit patient claims to the Health Insurance Commission is available at http://www.hic.gov.au/CA256976001D0618/Lookup/PDF_GENERAL_E-BUS/$file/ebu_sbug_toc_cont.pdf#search=%22hic%20simplified%20billing%20user%20guide%22

Member Benefits Program

The Federal AMA runs a Member Benefits Program for its members, offering the following products and services which would assist doctors in their practices:

AMA/American Express Affinity Card Program

The AMA Gold Business Card is ideal for use as the first form of payment for medical practice expenses. It comes with detailed GST reporting statements to assist with preparation of Business Activity Statements and other business requirements. AMA Members with practices who are American Express Merchants also receive a specially negotiated rate of 1.49%.

No pre-set spending limit
No joining fee or supplementary card fee
1 reward point for every dollar spent
Annual fee of $169 which includes access to the Membership Rewards program (annual fee is waived in the first year)
Up to $300,000 complimentary Travel Accident Insurance
GST Statement and quarterly expense report

Members may also wish to take advantage of the AMA Platinum Card, AMA Gold Credit Card and the AMA Gold Charge Card. All of these cards offer market leading value and benefits. Information or application for the complete range of AMA American Express Cards is available at /amex

Marsh offers insurance products developed for the insurance needs of AMA members

AMA Practice Insurance- Underwritten by CGU

Cover can be broken down by specific needs- building, contents, accident, medicine depreciation
Allows Medical Professionals a choice of cover and flexibility
Designed exclusively for the Medical Profession
Marsh can assist in creating a policy to cover each member's specific requirements

Ezicover Needlestick Cover Plus Insurance- Developed by Zurich Australia Limited

Offers a lump sum benefit on occupationally acquired contraction of HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C by whatever means, whether by blood,
sharps injury, saliva, bone dust or needlestick
Offers cover ranging from $50,000 to $400,000
Is designed for those 19 to 65 years of age and renewable till age 75
First month's premium free for AMA members

Apart from these two major programs, the Federal AMA offers a range of products and services from recognised suppliers at discounted prices. A full listing is available in the last two pages of Australian Medicine and at /memberservices or by calling 1300 133 655

Other Resource Material

A range of other resource material may be obtained through the links and the search facility on the AMA website, which is at www.ama.com.au
The AMA's position statements may be of particular interest. These provide guidance on a variety of important topics, including ethical issues (e.g. advertising and endorsement, doctors' relationships with the pharmaceutical industry), general practice issues (e.g. accreditation and standards in general practice, provision of mental health care including Telepsychiatry), and medico-legal issues (e.g. expert medical witnesses, independent medical assessments). They appear on the AMA website at /web.nsf/topic/policy-policy-discussion-papers&cat=Position%20Statement and also in the AMA's publication entitled Policy Resolutions and Position Statements provided to new members (updates may be obtained from the AMA's Federal Office by telephoning (02) 6270 5400).

Further information regarding the resources available through the Federal Secretariat of the AMA is available via the following:

Phone: (02) 6270 5400
Fax: (02) 6270 5499
Email: ama@ama.com.au