Australian Medical Association Limited
ABN 37 008 426 793
42 Macquarie Street, Barton ACT 2600: PO Box 6090, Kingston ACT 2604
Telephone: (02) 6270 5400 Facsimile (02) 6270 5499
EMBARGO: 1.00AM, MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 2009
GOVERNMENT TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARDS MEDICARE RED
TAPE STREAMLINING
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the Government’s promised streamlining of
the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) has delivered a number of worthwhile reforms, but has
not matched the rhetoric of the Prime Minister’s 2007 election promise to ‘simplify Medicare’.
Dr Pesce said that Australia’s hard working GPs had high hopes that GP consultation items
would be comprehensively overhauled and red tape cut to a minimum so they could spend
more time with their patients.
“The AMA fully expected the Government to deliver on its promise to simplify Medicare but
the results fall short of the expectations of many GPs,” Dr Pesce said.
“We can only hope that this is just the first step in an ongoing reform process.
“The simplification process was undertaken on a cost neutral basis, which was clearly an
impediment to more sweeping changes.
“Nevertheless, some of the changes are positive and will bring relief to long suffering GPs and
their patients,” Dr Pesce said.
The Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, Dr Rod Pearce, said the AMA is very
pleased to see that the definitions of long consultation items (Level C and Level D) have been
clarified.
“The AMA made strong representations to the Government about longer consultations,” Dr
Pearce said.
“They have listened to our arguments and now formally acknowledge that patients often visit
their GP with more than one health complaint.
“These consultations require more time and detail in order to provide the holistic care the
patient needs.
“Further, we are pleased that the MBS will now specifically recognise the work that GPs
undertake in delivering preventive health consultations, which are an important part of general
practice.
“The changes also mean that if more than one GP attends a patient who is at imminent risk of
death, Medicare will allow each GP to claim against Medicare for this work.
“Current rules only allow a claim to be made by one practitioner, no matter how many doctors
are involved.
“This is a situation that often occurs in rural areas.
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“The other changes announced by the Government will help cut some compliance costs, but
there is no doubt that a lot more could have been achieved.
“The Government should have seen this as an opportunity to invest in significant MBS
simplification and reform,” Dr Pearce said.
Dr Pesce said a more comprehensive overhaul could have delivered greater savings and
efficiencies, and provided patients with better access to quality primary care.
“The Government still has an opportunity to pursue a broader overhaul of the MBS as part of
its Primary Care Reform Strategy,” Dr Pesce said.
“The AMA wants a modern Medicare that supports improved access to care for patients and
ensures that patient rebates keep up with the costs of delivering high quality health care
services,” Dr Pesce said.
14 December 2009
CONTACT:
Peter Jean
02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
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