Government Must Act To Protect Doctors From Corporate Pressure To Overservice
AMA Vice President, Dr Choong-Siew Yong, said today doctors working in corporate medical practices are encouraged to maintain ethical and clinical standards in line with the AMA's Code of Conduct, which has been in place since 2001.
Responding to a report in today's Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Yong said while Medicare has processes in place to deal with suspected overservicing by individual doctors, it is not able to regulate corporations.
"The Government must ensure there are legal processes in place to deal with larger corporate medical services suspected of putting pressure on their doctors to overservice.
"Around eight per cent of doctors now work under the umbrella of corporate medical practices, on contracts or as employees, and most work to strict ethical guidelines," Dr Yong said.
"While there may be pressure for some doctors to focus on the bottom line of these practices, most doctors will maintain their professional and clinical independence and put the interests of their patients first.
"The AMA advises doctors working in such practices to ensure that the remuneration schemes, including bonuses and performance pay, do not encourage overservicing.
"Any doctor suspected of overservicing should be investigated and there are systems in place to do this.
"The Government's task now is to ensure legal processes are in place to deal with allegations against corporations. The law must keep pace with current business practice," Dr Yong said.
12 January 2006
CONTACT: Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306