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AMA poll shows doctors want incentive programs scrapped and red tape slashed

AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that a recent AMA poll showed that GPs want more than $250 million of targeted incentive payments redirected to Medicare patient rebates to help make primary health care more accessible and affordable.

Dr Glasson said that payments to GPs under Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) and the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) work against the basic principles of general practice.

"The incentives are meant to coerce GPs to practice specific disease or ailment medicine with payment based on meeting quotas of patients suffering from diabetes or asthma, for example," Dr Glasson said.

"While there is merit in highlighting certain diseases and illnesses, these programs fail the equity and fairness test. Worse, they imply that GPs are not capable of diagnosing and treating certain conditions unless there is a financial inducement to do so.

"The AMA and the doctors polled believe the money would be of greater benefit if it went directly to Medicare patient rebates to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients.

"There would be a double benefit in scrapping these programs with a significant reduction in the bureaucratic red tape that reduces the amount of time that doctors can spend with patients."

The AMA poll was conducted during May 2003 by market research firm, TNS, and involved 402 GPs representing all States and metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions.

The PIP scheme costs taxpayers $193.3 million a year. EPC costs more than $63 million a year.

Along with vocational registration, PIP and EPC generate most GP red tape, which the Productivity Commission estimates cost each GP around $13,000 a year.

Key conclusions of the poll include

  • 74 per cent of GPs polled would prefer EPC redirected to Medicare patient rebates
  • 69 per cent of GPs polled would prefer PIP redirected to Medicare patient rebates
  • 58 per cent of GPs polled said EPC creates too much red tape
  • 54 per cent of GPs polled said PIP creates too much red tape
  • 49 per cent say EPC has NOT improved their quality of practice (45 per cent say it has)
  • 54 per cent say PIP has NOT improved their quality of practice (44 per cent say it has)

Dr Glasson said the poll shows clearly that PIP and EPC have not improved the quality of practice.

"The programs have increased red tape but have not improved the quality of patient care and do not justify the $250 million of taxpayers money spent on them every year.

"Scrap PIP. Scrap EPC. Slash the red tape.

"It is time to get smarter with the health budget.

"The Government must work harder to make a visit to the doctor more affordable for all Australians," Dr Glasson said.

The AMA is currently consulting with the Government about the terms of reference for a review of GP red tape to be conducted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Full details of the AMA Poll can be obtained from Kristen Connell, GP Department, AMA, on 02 6270 5439.

CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306

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