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Australian Medicine – Performance Pay for GPs no budget panacea

As the Federal Budget draws near, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Abbott Government plans big changes to health spending, including a shift in GP remuneration and a much bigger role for private health funds in primary care. These issues are of great importance to the medical profession and are examined in detail in the latest edition of Australian Medicine. AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, warns the introduction of a performance pay for doctors risks compromising care and should only be considered as an adjunct to the current fee-for-service model. Also in this issue: the AMA releases its position statement on private health insurance and primary care services; the controversial GP co-payment proposal is slammed; there is news about recent AMA advocacy and media activity; and the role of pharmacy is examined.

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