General Practice

By Dr Brian MortonAccording to the Mayan calendar, 2012 will be a year of transformation.  This got me thinking about the challenges that lie ahead for GPs and how the AMA can best provide for GPs. 

Transformations have already begun.  To start with the new Practice Nurse Incentive Program came into effect from 1 January 2012. All practices that employ a practice nurse (metropolitan and beyond) will now have an opportunity to benefit from this incentive.

As a result of effective advocacy by the AMA, those practices ineligible for the PNIP (ie non-accredited practices) will have access to grandparenting payments following the withdrawal of the MBS practice nurse items and top up payments will also be available to protect PNIP eligible practices against financial disadvantage.  Practices have until 30 June 2012 to register for the grandparenting or top up payments available, if applicable. 

Some Medicare Locals are in the initial stages of operation - with the rest expected to commence operation this year.  GPs are nervous about how Medicare Locals will impact on them, particularly as there are no guarantees that GPs will be included on the Boards of Medicare Locals.  Will GPs’ knowledge and experience of health care priorities be given due consideration or will Boards be misdirected by political agendas? 

Previously Divisions claimed to represent GPs but the past Health Minister Nicola Roxon recently told Medicare Locals they ‘are no longer responsible for a particular group’ (i.e. GPs).  AMA advocacy for GPs will now clearly extend to dealing with Medicare Locals and ensuring that the voice of GPs is heard. 

Our challenge is to identify what GPs will need from us in this new environment and this will require feedback from GPs about the changes taking place and how they are impacting on you and your patients, be it good or bad. 

With significant pressure on the Federal Budget, a priority for the Government will be containing the rising cost of health care. As GPs, we know we are already saving the Government money by keeping people out of hospital and ensuring that they can live healthy and productive lives.  We also know the extra time spent on preventive care is money in the bank down the line. 

Our challenge is to quantify these savings to highlight to Government the value that GPs provide.  Devaluing GP services, the cuts to GP mental health and the inadequate rates for after hours services and at home visits is a counter-productive response driven by bean counters in Treasury and Finance Departments who do not understand the role of general practice and think cuts to already inadequate Medicare rebates will protect the Budget bottom line.

The AMA’s role in this year of transformation, and as we prepare for next year’s election, is to provide the Government and its alternative with the evidence of poor policy and, more importantly evidence-based solutions for the development of good policy.  We’ll be working hard to do just that.