AMACGP CHAIR MEETS WITH MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING
The Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, Dr Rod Pearce, met with the Minister for Health and Ageing, Ms Nicola Roxon, on 31 July 2008 to discuss reform in primary health care.
Ms Roxon visited Dr Pearce at his Beulah Park practice and met with practice staff including its psychologist, practice nurses, social worker, podiatrist, diabetic educator and the practice manager. The Minister also spoke with Dr Anthony Chu, an intern on rotation at the practice, Dr Vi Tri Phuong, a resident undertaking a training placement at the practice under the PGPPP, and Dr Don Clarkson, a GP who has been with the practice for 36 years. Dr Clarkson and the Minister discussed the importance of retaining experienced GPs for training the next generation of GPs.
Dr Pearce and Ms Roxon covered a range of topics during their meeting including super clinics, GP training, simplifying Medicare, provider number red tape, and extending practice nurse subsidies.
QSLS FOR GP AGED CARE ACCESS INCENTIVE
The Department of Health and Ageing has announced the qualifying service levels (QSLs) established for practice incentive payments (PIP) under the GP Aged Care Access Incentive. GPs working in PIP practices that provide 60 services to patients in residential aged care facilities during a financial year will qualify for the Tier-One payment of $1,000. The Tier-Two payment of $1,500 will be paid when a GP has provided 140 services.
The AMA will continue to pursue with the Government improved patient rebates for residents of aged care facilities, increased use of practice nurses and more efficient prescribing mechanisms within the facilities.
AMA HAS HEALTH AND LEGAL CONCERNS OVER FAKE SICK NOTES
A website offering fake sick notes for a fee could endanger people’s health and encourage fraud, AMA President Dr Rosanna Capolingua has warned.
The AMA understands that an overseas company has set up an Australian section on their website that charges $40 for fake sick leave certificates containing a local GP’s name and practice. Dr Capolingua said that using the names of real local GPs to issue fake sick leave certificates is a fraudulent practice. Find out more here.
AMA: ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE SHOULD BE ASSESSED WHEN ACCREDITING AGED CARE FACILITIES
Dr Capolingua says that the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency should introduce a new accreditation requirement to ensure that residents of aged care facilities have appropriate access to medical care by doctors. Access to appropriate medical and nursing assessment, care and management is essential to the appropriate care of older people, particularly the frail aged.
Dr Capolingua says that to ensure all residents have access to high quality health care, the Australian Government should introduce proper patient rebates that recognise the comprehensive management and medical care undertaken by doctors.
See here for more information.
PATIENT SAFETY PARAMOUNT IN MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS
Doctors must maintain sole responsibility for prescribing medication to patients says Dr Capolingua. “The right medication and the right dose at the right time for the patient is essential. Patients do not want to take unnecessary or inappropriate medication, and they want to be sure that what they are taking is right for them at the time,” she says.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has proposed a list of 20 drugs that it says pharmacists should be able to continue to dispense without a current prescription. Dr Capolingua says that these are serious medications, important to the patient’s clinical condition. The AMA is extremely concerned for patients if they are given access to these medications without seeing a doctor.
Find out more here.