SIMPLIFYING MEDICARE
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, says the AMA will work closely with the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, to simplify Medicare and remove disincentives for longer consultations for patients with chronic conditions.
Dr Capolingua says any review of the MBS must ensure there is an adequate patient rebate for longer consultations, but the review must also reject any proposals for fundholding or capped annual budgets for managing patients with chronic conditions such as has been proposed by the Australian General Practice Network.
Dr Capolingua commended Ms Roxon’s plans to simplify Medicare as MBS red tape cuts into the time that doctors can spend with patients. Changing the system to allow doctors to spend more time with patients suffering chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular disease is key to the provision of quality care.
“Medicare must encourage and reward quality care, and the AMA will assist the Health Minister make this a reality”, said Dr Capolingua.
Simplifying Medicare was one of the AMA’s Key Health Issues for the 2007 Election.
RATIFYING KYOTO
The Prime Minister’s decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol has been welcomed by AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, as a sign that Australia will take a leading international role in addressing the impact on human health, now and into the future, from climate change.
Australia signing on to the Kyoto Protocol was one of the key recommendations of the AMA’s 2004 Position Statement on Climate Change and Human Health.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEING ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to Nicola Roxon’s appointment as Minister for Health and Ageing, other Ministers we could be expected to deal with include Justine Elliot as Minister for Ageing, Senator Jan McLucas as Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Alan Griffin as Minister for Veterans Affairs, and Senator Joe Ludwig in Human Services. We would expect contact with Senator Stephen Conroy on Broadband aspects, Jenny Macklin on Indigenous Affairs, and Senator Penny Wong on climate change and water.
Jane Halton remains as Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing. Megan Morris is head of the Primary and Ambulatory Care Division and Tony Kingdon is head of the Medicare Benefits Division.
NATIONAL HEALTH AND HOSPITALS REFORM COMMISSION
One of the most significant policies of the new Government is the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. The Government is committed to establishing this body within 100 days of assuming office. It is expected to consider far reaching reform proposals, and both its role and membership are of keen interest to the AMA.