AMA: Rural health a bright spot in budget

Measures contained in this week’s Federal Budget will help attract and retain more doctors to rural and remote areas. AMA Federal President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, says a $134.4 million rural health package announced in the budget showed that the government has responded to the AMA’s call to boost rural health.

GPs moving to rural areas will be eligible for relocation payments of between $15,000 and $120,000. GPs working in these areas will also be eligible for ongoing incentives. The arrangements will be targeted so that GPs moving to, or working in, the most remote areas will get more support. An additional 500 communities will for the first time be eligible for payments to help them attract and retain doctors. Read more

AMA: Health budget fails those most in need

The AMA says the most alarming element of the budget is the total absence of health support measures for the unemployed. Dr Capolingua says that these people are in real and immediate need of medical care but the government has made no provision for extra public hospital services or support for GPs in this budget.

The AMA believes that public hospitals will take the brunt as job losses force families to drop private health cover. Dr Capolingua says that the government will also look to GPs to continue to subsidise healthcare through bulk billing – effectively providing a half-price service. Doctors are looking to the government to help ensure the most disadvantaged patients can continue to be bulk billed, particularly in the hard times ahead. She said that an immediate measure would be to fund patient care properly through Medicare rebates that have fallen hopelessly behind the cost of delivering the service. Read more

PGPPP wins budget support

The successful Prevocational General Practice Placements Program was boosted with an additional $41 million in the budget to support an extra 160 places annually. The AMA has campaigned strongly to have this program expanded as it provides prevocational doctors with access to a high-quality general practice experience and encourages them to consider a long-term career in general practice.

Medicare electronic claiming public awareness campaign

Medicare Australia is running a public awareness campaign for electronic claiming. The media campaign will begin this Sunday 17 May 2009 followed by a direct mailing campaign to targeted areas. The campaign will inform Medicare cardholders that they can claim their rebate at the doctor’s surgery and have it paid directly into their bank account. Cardholders are being encouraged to provide their bank account details to Medicare Australia and to ask if their doctor offers electronic claiming. More details on the campaign will be available on the Medicare Australia website after the campaign launch.

Patient claiming and bulk-billing are available via both e-claiming systems. For more information click here. Practices that take up e-claiming before 31 December 2009 will be eligible for the transitional support package.

Practices that have chosen to not provide electronic patient claiming services may need to consider providing staff with a prepared response for handling patient inquiries on the matter.

Registrations open for Private Practice Conference 2009
 
The Private Practice Conference 2009 (PPC 09) is now open for registrations. It will be held in conjunction with the AMA’s National Conference at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, 29-20 May. GPs will be able to get expert advice on running a successful practice, whether they are starting a new practice, growing an existing practice, or simply working in medicine and exploring options. Visit the PPC 09 website for details and a registration form.

2010 Australian General Practice Training program intake

The selection for the 2010 AGPT Program opens on 22 May and closes on 22 June. Information for all prospective applicants, including the AGPT Applicant Guide 2010, is available on the AGPT website.