New Director of Professional Services Review (PSR)
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the AMA looks forward to working closely with the new Director of the Professional Services Review (PSR) Scheme, Dr Tony Webber.
The PSR examines the conduct of health practitioners to check if they have or have not:
Practised inappropriately in relation to services that attract Medicare rebates; or
- Prescribed inappropriately under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Dr Glasson said the AMA is a strong defender of both Medicare and the PBS.
"The Professional Services Review's foundation is in peer review," Dr Glasson said.
"Inappropriate practice is defined as 'conduct in providing services that a committee of the practitioner's peers consider unacceptable to the general body of the profession'.
"The AMA will ensure its members and other doctors are kept informed of PSR guidelines and procedures.
"We will work with Dr Webber and the PSR to ensure that Medicare and the PBS - the twin pillars of the Australian health system - continue to serve the Australia community by providing quality health services and pharmaceuticals in a cost-effective way," Dr Glasson said.
Dr Glasson paid tribute to outgoing PSR Director, Dr John Holmes, and wished him well in his future career.