AMA supports "informed financial consent"
Contrary to some media reports today, the AMA supports the concept of a voluntary code of 'informed financial consent' for inpatient medical services, AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today.
Dr Phelps said the AMA had first looked at the concept in 1988, the policy had been firmly in place since 1994, and was reinforced with an information campaign for doctors in 1998 - and it has been a very successful initiative.
"Reported plans by the Federal Government to introduce a mandatory code would be punitive and, as such, opposed by the AMA," Dr Phelps said.
"It is regrettable that the Health Minister has chosen not to consult the AMA and the medical profession on this proposal before going public with it. There has been no effort by the Minister, his office or his Department to contact the AMA on this or any other health issue.
"The AMA and doctors have always worked with Governments on this matter.
"In 1998, the AMA sent a kit to all specialists encouraging 'informed financial consent' which included a sample informed financial consent form.
"We worked with the Government on the development of the Gap Cover Schemes legislation which enables the funds to put forward schemes to the Minister for approval.
"And we recently revised the form and made it widely available to funds directly and via our website. It was sent to the Department and was publicly available through our publication, Australian Medicine."
Dr Phelps said that instead of being provocative, the Minister should address the bigger picture problems of the entire health system by implementing the Relative Value Study (RVS).
"If the Minister was serious about patient gap payments, he would implement the RVS. This would be delivering something tangible and beneficial to patients by stopping ever-increasing gap payments.
"Instead, as part of the taxpayer-funded 'gaps' campaign, the Minister and the health funds are encouraging the use of participating provider lists, and several funds have indicated an intention to publish these lists.
"This is yet another symptom of American-style managed care in health.
"The AMA's advice to GPs is to continue to make decisions on referral based on expertise in the relevant medical/surgical field, quality and cost.
"Our advice to patients is to seek the advice of their GP who has their best interest at heart, and not the advice of the health funds who care only about cost.
"It is irresponsible of the Minister to embark on this course of action without first consulting with the AMA, the peak independent group representing the interests of doctors and their patients in Australia."
The AMA resolution on 'informed financial consent' reads as follows:
"In keeping with the Notes for Guidance to the AMA List of Medical Services, Federal Council reaffirms the principle of 'informed financial consent' between the patient and the doctor, i.e. wherever possible, the doctor should give the patient sufficient information regarding his or her likely fees and the associated rebates so that the patient is able to make an informed financial decision prior to the provision of medical services."
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076