Return to Treating Doctors Report not the way to support DSP applicants
The AMA has provided a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs - Inquiry into the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
The submission was made in response to a request from the Committee for comment on the proposal for a re-introduction of the DSP Treating Doctors Report.
The AMA submission opposed the proposal and highlighted the need for clearer and better funding mechanisms to support GPs in compiling/and or summarising the medical evidence to support a patient's DSP claim. The AMA submission also called for:
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Amendments to MBS consultation items to make it clear that they can be claimed for completing any report required to help a patient to obtain a government benefit, regardless of whether the patient is present or not;
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Accredited education to enhance GP’s awareness of and use of Disability Impairment Tables in providing medical evidence to support a DSP claim
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Modifications to the DSP requirement for a condition/disability to be fully diagnosed, fully treated and full stabilised to better account for patients with a progressive, episodic, or fluctuating condition;
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Removal of the requirement for a GP mental health diagnosis to be corroborated by psychiatrist or clinical psychologist; and
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Clarification of the remuneration available to GPs when further information is sought by Job Capacity Assessors or Government Contracted Doctors.
Read submission here
