MYEFO Statement indicates difficult future for health sector

AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon has pledged to fight any proposed cuts to health funding, following another blow for the health sector in the Federal Government’s MYEFO statement.

Dr Gannon said removing bulk billing incentives for pathology and diagnostic imaging services would only increase the health cost burden for families in WA. While protections remain for concession card holders, there is again little understanding for the difficulties faced by the working poor.

“This is really just another co-payment by stealth, and the Government is once again ignoring its core responsibility to provide access to affordable, quality health services for the Australian people.

“Cutting Medicare patient rebates for important pathology and imaging services is another example of putting the Budget bottom line ahead of good health policy.

“These services are critical to early diagnosis and management of health conditions to allow people to remain productive in their jobs, for the good of the economy," he said. 

For more information, please click here. 

High quality General Practice in Bassendean available

A member and colleague of the AMA (WA), who  operates a very busy, high-quality General Practice, offering a full range of comprehensive services to the community in Bassendean and its surrounding suburbs, has decided to cease practice and devote his time to family pursuits and achieving a full recovery from a recently diagnosed illness.

He has asked the AMA(WA) to assist him in seeking colleagues and other interested parties, who would be interested in purchasing the practice as a going concern.

For more detailed particulars and an information package please contact Mr Michael Prendergast at the AMA (WA) on (08) 9273 3008, or Noelle Jones on (08) 9273 3000

Training delivers benefits and savings for AMA members

AMA Training Services is now in a position to offer members the Diploma of Leadership and Management, a course that will assist in developing staff leadership and management skills.

The Diploma of Leadership and Management course is ideal for medical practice staff who are working or seeking career development as a coordinator, manager, supervisor or team leader.

Members’ new and existing eligible staff are able to complete the Diploma of Leadership and Management through traineeship arrangements, which may provide members the additional benefit of being able to claim payroll tax exemptions for their staff.

Members seeking further information about pricing and training material should contact Alan Hill at AMA Training Services on 9273 3000 or at alan.hill@amawa.com.au

AMA Medical Products 2015 Quarter 4 Promotion

AMA (WA) Medical Products is pleased to announce the launch of its 2015 Quarter 4 Promotion. 

With the promotion set to end by 31 December 2015, there's no better time to snap up some of the incredible deals on offer. 

As a bonus, we will be giving away a free tendon hammer with every order, so get in quick to avoid missing out!

For more information, please click here or call (08) 9273 3022.

Youth Friendly Doctor Program

The Youth Friendly Doctor (YFD) Program seeks to build the capacity of General Practitioners to communicate more effectively with young people, address the barriers young people face in accessing health care and promote adolescent friendly policies, facilities and service delivery.

This program is accredited with the RACGP and attracts Category 1 and or Category 2 QI&CPD points.

The first workshops for the 2016 program are open for enrolment:

 2 February: Young People, Ethics and the Law
16 February: Young People’s Sexual Health

Each workshop has an online classroom and therefore rural participants are encouraged to apply.

FREE for AMA (WA) members. $50 per workshop for non-members.

If you would like more information about the program please contact the AMA (WA) via email or phone (9273 3000).

News for GPs from the Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services’ latest newsletter for health professionals contains a number of items of interest to GPs, including notification that you no longer need to provide accreditation certificates for the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) if already registered for PIP, and a reminder that the Healthy Kids Check must now be billed under an MBS attendance item.

News for Health Professionals directs readers to its Incentives News Update, which explains that the details of renewed accreditation certificates for practices that are registered with the PIP and Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP) are now updated automatically. PIP After Hours Incentive requirements are also outlined, as well as the Health Professionals Online Services (HPOS) that enables practices to view and update practice details online, apply for individual incentives, confirm practice details for PIP and PNIP confirmation statements, and add or amend practitioners.

The newsletter also reminds GPs that Healthy Kids Checks must now be billed under an MBS attendance item as they can no longer bill Healthy Kids Checks under the MBS health assessment items, 701, 703, 705 and 707. Item 10986, which was for Healthy Kids Checks performed by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, is no longer listed on the MBS.

A gap in your defence insurance could prove very costly

Would you like some extra peace of mind against things that may not traditionally be covered by other policies, or a little extra help or comfort for other unexpected events? 

This specialised product covers a variety of different exposures not normally covered by traditional policies. 

Covering the expenses associated with the defence, and sometimes pursuit, of legal representations, it includes:
 

• Privacy Breaches
• Medicare Audits
• AHPRA Registration Investigation
• Disputes with ATO
• Tenancy/Property Disputes
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal Appeals and more. 

For more information on this product, please click here.

PHNs must not be used to ration health care: AMA

The AMA this week released its Position Statement on Primary Health Networks (PHNs) 2015, which replaces the AMA Position Statement on Medicare Locals 2011.

AMA Vice President, Dr Stephen Parnis, said the AMA supports the need for an overarching structure of Primary Health Care Organisations (PHCOs) such as Medicare Locals or Primary Health Networks (PHNs), but they should not become agencies for rationing health funding or devolving the Federal Government’s core primary health care responsibilities.

“PHNs have an important role to play in improving the integration of health services within primary health care, enhancing the interface between primary care and hospitals, and ensuring health services are tailored to the needs of local communities,” Dr Parnis said.

“General practice must be at the heart of PHNs, and GPs must be heavily involved in the leadership and management of PHNs.

Dr Parnis said that the Government’s recent mental health reforms and some of the preliminary work of the Primary Health Care Advisory Group point to a bigger, more controversial, and potentially unwelcome role for PHNs in primary health care funding.

For more on this position statement, please click here. 

AMA proposes stronger support and standards for international medical graduates

The AMA this week released its new AMA Position Statement on International Medical Graduates 2015, replacing the AMA Position Statement on Overseas Trained Doctors 2004.

The new Position Statement sets out the AMA’s policy on International Medical Graduates (IMGs), particularly those IMGs who are yet to establish themselves in the Australian medical workforce, and recommends priorities for recruiting, assessing, training, and supporting IMGs.

AMA Vice President, Dr Stephen Parnis, said that IMGs have made an enormous contribution to the Australian health system in recent decades, especially in providing care in under-serviced communities.

“The new Position Statement emphasises the need to better support IMGs in their professional careers, but also to help them and their families gain access to community services such as health and education.

For more information, please click here. 

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