What is changing for GPs around CPD?
From 16 June, GPs will no longer be reliant on the RACGP or ACRRM confirming their eligibility for Medicare to Services Australia.
Medicare eligibility will be automatically linked to a practitioner’s registration status and not subject to whether the practitioner continues to be recognised as a Fellow of their college. This removes a process that treated GP recognition for Medicare differently than that for non-GP specialties. It will provide GPs with the same freedoms enjoyed by other specialties when it comes to meeting their CPD obligations for the purpose of continued registration.
Once a GP who has obtained Fellowship is registered in the specialty of general practice, that specialty status will continue to be recognised, so long as the practitioner continues to meet the requirements for registration, including the Board’s Registration standard for continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
The current standard enables doctors to choose a self-directed program of CPD if it meets the requirements for CPD set by the relevant specialist college. GPs are finally being given the opportunity that other specialties have enjoyed of being able to take control of their CPD learning.
The free AMA CPD Tracker, accessed via doctorportal Learning, supports medical practitioners irrespective of specialty, to track and report against multiple CPD requirements that meet their scope of practice.
Disclaimer: Existing CPD requirements for GPs remain in place until 16 June, 2021. The Medical Board of Australia (MBA) current standard for CPD requires specialist medical practitioners to meet the requirements for CPD set by the relevant specialist college for every specialty in which they hold specialist registration.
