BEYOND THE BLAME GAME
The Australian Medical Association welcomed the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report released yesterday and commends it for recommending improved accountability in the health system. The Commission proposes a clear allocation of responsibilities for delivering health services against performance indicators, to either Commonwealth or State Governments.
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, welcomed the introduction of specific performance indicators. The ultimate performance indicator for governments was the provision of timely and affordable health care and quality medical services for all Australians, regardless of their circumstances and location, she said.
Dr Capolingua also welcomed the proposal to include medical workforce training benchmarks in future Australian Health Care Agreements. “The Commission could have gone further by setting benchmarks for general practice training numbers. These need to be addressed if we are to maintain a strong primary care workforce and meet the Government’s objectives for tackling chronic disease and increasing preventative health measures,” she said.
Dr Capolingua said to achieve this, the Rudd Government needed to boost funding for GP training numbers and reform the Medicare Schedule to better support patients when seeing GPs.
Click here for the AMA’s full press release.
GP SUPER CLINICS – HAVE YOUR SAY
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) now has a website up and running, which includes relevant information on the Government’s GP Super Clinic Program. Program guidelines are available from the site and it will also be regularly updated to include details of planned consultation dates. Click here to access the site for more information.
The first consultations are planned for Geelong and Ballana on May 20 and May 21 respectively. Register your intention to attend by emailing DoHA at gpsuperclinics@health.gov.au. Local GPs are encouraged to attend to have their say about the planned clinics and to talk about local healthcare needs. Comments about any planned GP Super Clinic can also be submitted via the above email address.
REGISTER FOR DIRECT DEBITED TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT PACKAGE
Registration forms have recently been sent to those practices that commenced electronic Medicare claiming for bulk bill and/or patient claiming after 1 September 2007 and are eligible for an incentive payment of either $750 (metropolitan) or $1000 (regional/rural).
It is anticipated that practices expecting to receive the 18 cents per transaction for electronic claims should begin to receive these payments in the middle of this year.
GETTING OBESITY UNDER CONTROL
The AMA recently released its Position Statement on Obesity and called on the food industry to take more responsibility in curbing Australia’s obesity problem by responsibly displaying and placing products to encourage healthy purchases by shoppers. “Food manufacturers should also work towards portion-controlled packaging energy-dense products and the gradual altering of existing products to reduce calorie density,” AMA President, Dr Capolingua said.
Dr Capolingua said governments should take firm action to encourage the food industry to adopt measures to promote healthy eating. “The AMA challenges the Federal Government to set firm goals and targets in preventing and reducing obesity, especially in our children. We know that the commitment is there, now we need to see the Government getting involved – to see implementation of initiatives that will have impact,” said Dr Capolingua.
For the full press release and position statement click here.