GP Network News, Issue 11, Number 3 - 28 January 2011

Australia Day Honours List for AMA members

The AMA congratulates its members who were recognized in the Australia Day Honours List. Those honoured include Dr Paul Bauert, OAM (NT), Dr Michael Ridley, OAM (NSW), Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, AO (Vic) and Dr Charles Roe AO (Qld). Other recipients are being identified and will be confirmed on our website.

GP Super Clinics Consultation

The Department of Health and Ageing notifies forthcoming local consultation meetings for GP Super Clinics on its website here.

The next meeting will be for the Karratha (WA) GP Super Clinic on Monday 31 January at Welcome Lotteries House, 7 Morse Street Karratha, WA. Commencing at 7pm, the meeting will conclude at 9pm. Email gpsuperclinics@health.gov.au to register your interest in attending.

Productivity Commission draft report – Caring for Older Australians

The Productivity Commission released its draft report Caring for Older Australians on 21 January.

While making occasional references to medical care needs and the AMA’s submission, the 500 page report gives low priority to ongoing access to medical care and little urgency in its recommendations to Government.

The AMA is calling on the Government to adopt the following aged care reforms:

• Aged care accreditation arrangements that more closely monitor and guarantee that aged care residents receive medical care and supervision on an ongoing basis;
• Specific financial support to allow approved residential aged care providers to enter into arrangements with medical practitioners, underpinned by a retainer, to ensure residents can access appropriate medical care;
• MBS rebates that better reflect the complexity of providing ongoing medical care to residents of aged care facilities for doctors and general practice nurses;
• Government support to residential aged care providers to ensure there are adequately equipped clinical treatment areas that afford patient privacy and information technology to enable access to medical records and to improve medication management; and
• Sufficient numbers of registered nurses to monitor, assess and care for residents and liaise with doctors.

The AMA will make a further submission to the Productivity Commission’s draft report and will participate in the public hearings scheduled for March and April. The final report is due in June.

A full copy of the draft report is available here.

Flood Levy

To help pay for flood recovery across affected regions of the country the Federal Government will impose a one-off levy applicable in the 2011-12 financial year only. The levy is expected to raise $1.8 billion. Key elements are:

• Anyone earning less than $50,000 will not pay the levy
• A levy of 0.5 per cent will apply on taxable incomes between $50,001 and $100,000.
• A levy of 1 per cent will apply on taxable incomes above $100,000
• People affected by the floods will not pay the levy
• A person earning $60,000 per year will pay just under $1 extra per week under the levy
• A person earning $100,000 per year will pay just under $5 extra per week under the levy
• Donations do not affect the levy

The AMA would welcome your feedback on your experiences with this new service.  Email as at gpnn@ama.com.au. 

We welcome your comments and suggestions as well.  Please tell us what you think.

Celebrate the benefits of AMA Membership

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!  RENEW your AMA Membership before 28th February 2011 on your AMA American Express^® Card to be in the draw to win up to $7,500 Credit on your Card*.

1st Prize       $7,500 Credit on AMA American Express Card
2nd Prize      $5,000 Credit on AMA American Express Card
3rd Prize       $2,500 Credit on AMA American Express Card

Plus earn at least ONE REWARDS POINT for every dollar you spend.

Look out for your member subscription notice in the mail, or for details on how to renew visit contact your state AMA or phone 1300 133 655.

If you do not have an AMA American Express Card please visit http://ama.com.au/amex and apply today.

For more information and full terms and conditions click here.