ACCC finally responds to medical lobbying on GP fee arrangements
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that Australians can celebrate a rare injection of common sense into competition policy with the ACCC agreeing that general practitoners working in the same practice can discuss the fees they charge patients.
Dr Phelps said this breakthrough comes after months of lobbying from the medical profession, led by the AMA, and steadfast denial by the ACCC that a problem exists.
"The difficulties created for medicine by competition policy extend well beyond the issues covered in this interim authorisation, but at least the process of reform has commenced," Dr Phelps said.
"The AMA has been pushing for common sense in this area for a long, long time,' Dr Phelps said.
"As with all dealings with the ACCC, we have to be very careful there are no strings attached.
"The interim authorisation process is only a quick fix when long term legislative changes are really required.
"The authorisation process is a short-term band-aid that could easily lead to complications - as we've seen with other medical groups - but at least Allan Fels is admitting that competition policy in this scenario is a serious problem.
"The ACCC's change of heart will add weight to the deliberations of the Government's Review of the impact of the Trade Practices Act (TPA) on rural doctors, which was announced recently by the Prime Minister.
"If today's decision is backed by amendments to the TPA, it will be good news for doctors and their patients as continuity of quality care can be maintained with less outside interference," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076