AMA URGES MAJOR PARTIES TO ADDRESS RURAL HEALTH CRISIS
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, visited Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast yesterday and urged the major parties to copy the AMA’s rural health policies to give country Australians some hope that the next Federal Government will resolve the widespread crisis confronting rural health services.
Joining with the Chair of the AMA’s Rural Reference Group and local GP, Dr David Rivett, Dr Capolingua said there has been relative silence on rural health this election campaign while rural and regional communities watch the range and quality of their health services further erode.
The AMA believes that the Coalition and Labor must at the very least commit to:
· Significant funding to rebuild country hospital infrastructure. The AMA estimates that the Federal government needs to invest an extra $2 billion over five years (matched by the States and Territories) in rural hospital funding;
· Programs to encourage young doctors to work in rural practice including scholarships and HECS relief;
· Proper funding for the medical specialist outreach program to allow the program to continue its good work into the future;
· Better funding for Patient Assisted Travel Schemes to allow rural Australians equal access to health care as people living in metropolitan centres; and
· A significant package of incentives to encourage doctors to work in rural Australia. The AMA/RDAA Rural Rescue Package calls for approximately $300 million a year to be invested in workforce incentives to ensure that rural areas have access to a viable medical workforce.
The AMA’s priorities for rural health are outlined in the election document, Key Health Issues for the 2007 Federal Election which can be viewed from the following link: http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-76Q23P.
BROADBAND INCENTIVE EXPIRING
GPs are reminded that if they haven’t yet signed with a qualified service provider for their broadband service or if their contract is due to expire on or before 31 December 2007 they have until this date to apply for the available government subsidy. Approved applications will receive this incentive for up to 12 months of broadband service. After 31 December 2007 the Broadband for Health program will cease.
The Government believes that broadband take up has reached saturation point but the AMA is concerned a significant number of GPs have still not taken up this incentive and will be pursuing this further with the Government. For more information about the Program go to: http://www.health.gov.au/broadband.
GIVE COUNTRY PRACTICE A GO
A new website launched by Rural Health Workforce Australia (http://www.gplifestylechange.com.au/) provides access to a series of documentaries entitled ‘Seachange, Treechange, Lifestyle Change…’. These interesting documentaries allow urban GPs to hear directly from Australian trained GPs who have made the move to rural or remote practice about the motivations, barriers, challenges and rewards of their move.
MBS & PBS ONLINE
GPs are reminded that you can access current MBS items from:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/Medicare-Benefits-Schedule-MBS-1.
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits is also available on line from:
http://www.pbs.gov.au/html/healthpro/home