Caring for patients with chronic and complex care needs - the AMA proposes a better way
The AMA today released a comprehensive plan to provide better care for patients with complex and chronic health care needs.
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that the AMA plan is a clinician-informed response to the Government’s recently announced proposals for caring for people with diabetes.
Dr Hambleton said the AMA supports the Government’s intent to improve access to GP-guided care for these patients but does not agree with its policy prescription.
“The Government’s proposals are flawed because they focus on a single disease, cap the funding available for patient care, and potentially undermine the important relationship between GPs and their patients,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The AMA plan provides more efficient arrangements to support well-coordinated multidisciplinary care to all patients with chronic and complex conditions, not just those with diabetes.
“By improving access to coordinated multidisciplinary care for these patients, we can reduce the number of avoidable hospital admissions and generate long term savings for the health system.”
The AMA supports a comprehensive approach to the management of chronic and complex disease that:
- Provides GP-coordinated access for patients to services based on clinical need;
- Provides a patient’s usual GP with the support they need to improve the care they can provide/organise for patients with chronic and complex disease;
- Supports GPs to facilitate access for their patients to other members of a multidisciplinary primary care team;
- Continues to ensure that funding follows the patient;
- Leads to better collaboration with existing service providers; and
- Simplifies and enhances the existing MBS chronic disease arrangements.
Dr Hambleton said the AMA plan responds better to individual patient needs than the Government’s proposals.
“Our plan ensures that patients do not lose their entitlement to a Medicare rebate and that funding arrangements do not interfere in the doctor-patient relationship,” Dr Hambleton said.
“It means that patients would have more choice and greater control over decisions about their health care, and it provides patients who have multiple conditions with improved access to GP-coordinated care services.
“We build on the proven existing care arrangements to make them work better for patients.
“The AMA plan provides access to a broad range of allied health and other support services and, importantly, it does not require the establishment of new bureaucracies in general practice.
“It is clinically effective and it is cost effective and it reduces the red tape burden on GPs.
“It is a better way – for doctors and for patients.
“Patients will receive care that is based on their clinical needs, and not according to a predetermined capped budget.
“It is a plan that respects the professionalism of GPs and the comprehensive personal care they provide to patients.
“We urge the Government to reconsider its proposals for patients with diabetes and to have a close look at what the AMA is offering,” Dr Hambleton said.
The AMA plan – Improving care for patients with chronic and complex care needs – is available on the AMA website at www.ama.com.au/node/5519
29 April 2010
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
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