DOCTOR TRAINING A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MATTER
AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it plans to recruit private hospitals and general practices to help train the doctors of the future, saying the AMA had been calling for a positive investment in this area.
“Australia is lucky to be looking forward to a flood of new medical graduates – we must better utilise general practice and the private sector to make sure all these graduates get the high quality training that Australian patients expect and deserve,” Dr Capolingua said. Click here for more.
AMA WELCOMES NEW SCREENING FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES
The Australian Medical Association has welcomed the application of the screening exam for international medical graduates (IMGs) coming to work in Australia.
AMA Vice President, Dr Gary Speck, said the additional assessment will reassure Australians that they will continue to get the best possible medical care from these doctors.
From this week, State/Territory medical boards will require all IMG’s applying to work in non-specialist positions to sit an AMC screening exam in which their medical knowledge and skills will be assessed to ensure that they meet Australia’s very high standards. Click here for more.
DENTAL HEALTH ITEMS – SENATE DISALLOWS HEALTH MINISTER’S LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT
The Senate recently disallowed the Minister for Health and Ageing’s legislative instrument to repeal Medicare dental Items 85011-87777. These items which the Government ceased access to on 31 March 2008 (except for those patients who had already undertaken treatment) have now been re-instated from 19 June 2008.
The Minister has advised that the Government intends closing the chronic disease dental scheme to all patients at the earliest opportunity once Parliament resumes in late-August and does not anticipate making any special transitional arrangements.
The Minister has written to stakeholders suggesting that GPs should carefully consider whether it is appropriate to refer a patient for dental treatment under the items as benefits will not be payable once the scheme is closed. Clearly, this situation creates uncertainty for patients and GPs alike. GPs should not hesitate to contact Medicare Australia on 132 150 if they are unsure of a patient’s eligibility for dental treatment.
VETERANS – DOSE ADMINISTRATION AID
The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) made the Dose Administration Aid (DAA) Service available to veterans at no cost, from 1 March 2008. Since this service became available, DVA has consistently received feedback from key stakeholders who have found the program to be too complex and difficult to navigate and this has created access difficulties for veterans.
In response, DVA has now simplified the program. A GP is able to prescribe a weekly DAA Service on Authority through the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC) for six months (original and 25 repeats).
The veteran will need to be assessed by the community pharmacist towards the end of the prescription, with the assessment to be forwarded to the GP and also VAPAC. The GP is able to claim item number CP42 ($50) to review the assessment before prescribing for another six months.
The veteran must be living in the community and a Home Medicines Review is strongly recommended for the veteran in conjunction with the use of this service; however, it is no longer mandatory.
BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT
AMA Victoria and La Trobe University have developed a two-day Business Principles of Health Management training program to provide health professionals with practical business skills needed in a medical environment. Early bird specials are currently available for sessions scheduled for 2 August and 13 September 2008. Click here for more information.