AMA (WA) 2020 Elections

Nominations for AMA (WA) President, Vice President and Council positions are now open:

A. OFFICE BEARERS (elected by the General Membership):

• President
• Vice-Presidents (Two)

B. SPECIALITY GROUPS (elected by the Specialty Group membership)

• Anaesthetists
• General Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Pathologists
• Psychiatrists
• Physicians
• Radiologists
• Surgeons
• Dermatologists
• Emergency Physicians
• Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Ophthalmologists
• Paediatricians

C. OTHER (3) (elected by the General Membership)

• Three Ordinary Members

Nominations must be received by 5.00pm on Sunday, 31 May 2020. For further information and to download the nomination form, please visit the AMA (WA) website.

AMA brokers Telehealth Agreement

The AMA has secured another significant win with two new bulk-billing incentive items now available where a medical service is provided to a ‘vulnerable’ patient:

• Item 10981 mirrors the current Item 10990 metropolitan; and
• Item 10982 mirrors the current Item 10991 regional.

The new bulk-billing incentive Items 10981 and 10982 can be claimed with face-to-face attendances or with the new COVID-19 telehealth and telephone services, where the conditions of the bulk-billing incentives are met. The government has decided, having made extra funding available to General Practice, to retain the requirement to bulk bill COVID-19 Telehealth (video conference) and telephone consultations where the service is provided to a concessional or vulnerable patient or a child under 16. Other GP patients can still be billed for a telehealth/telephone consultation as per a GP’s normal billing policies; there is no requirement to bulk bill in-rooms GP consultations.

The AMA is also advocating that MBS Telehealth be brought back to being provided only by the patient’s usual general practice, which will support bona fide GP practices and discourage low-quality services being offered by entrepreneurs seeking to exploit loopholes in the current regulations.

The AMA continues to lobby against the bulk-billing restrictions, but our absolute determination is that it does not continue once the current legislation expires in September.

Notice of upcoming changes to the AMA Fees List - Diagnostic Imaging items

The AMA wishes to advise members of upcoming changes to the AMA Fees List, in response to the changes to the MBS Diagnostic Imaging (DI) services coming into effect on 1 May 2020.

The 1 May MBS DI changes are a result of the Government’s review of the over 900 items in the MBS Diagnostic Imaging Services Table (DIST) and other considerations from the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

To continue reading, please visit the AMA (WA) website. 

Western Australians urged to get vaccinated against the flu

All Western Australians are being urged to see their local GP and get vaccinated against influenza early, before the peak flu season kicks off in June.

AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller said it was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic that people protect themselves and their families and get vaccinated against the flu.

“Both influenza and COVID-19 can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and respiratory failure,” he said.

To continue reading, please visit the AMA (WA) website. 

Reminder: 2020 membership renewal

If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to renew your AMA (WA) membership. Your continued support allows us to achieve significant outcomes for doctors – help us do it again this year!

To renew your membership, please visit the AMA (WA) website or call 9273 3055.
 

Please note: If you have not renewed, you will no longer receive your monthly edition of Medicus.

AMA Financial Services – 3-Generation Testamentary Trust bundle for AMA (WA) members

Every year, Australian taxpayers voluntarily pay the government millions of dollars in ‘death taxes’ such as Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty, Income tax and up to 32% in non-dependency Superannuation tax.*

Proper Estate Planning ensures that your estate goes to those you care about.

Talk to one of our Financial Advisers about this offer to find out how we can help you. Email us at advice@amafp.com.au or call us on 1800 262 287.

Message from the AMA Recruit team

We hope you are staying safe and well in this ever-changing environment.
 

As well as all of the key messages you are receiving from the AMA (WA), the team at AMA Recruit would like to remind you that we are also here to assist you.

With the AMA supporting the rationale to cautiously and gradually restart elective surgery and for treatment to proceed as determined by doctors, hopefully we will see routine health care start to resume soon.

While you may not have any immediate staffing needs, we do provide other services for our Members including:

• General support to help improve systems and processes within your Practice
• Human resource services such as the creation of job descriptions and workforce planning
• CV writing and job application letters

Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time, even if it is just for a conversation or for some advice.

Kristel Maltese – Practice Support Consultant: kristel.maltese@amawa.com.au or (08) 9273 3000

Yvette McQueen – Business Lead, Recruitment: yvette.mcqueen@amawa.com.au or 0418 848 503

2019 ASMOF Federal Financial Report

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (“the RO Act”) imposes financial accountability obligations on Federal Registered Unions.

The obligations include requirement to prepare and lodge a financial report and provide the report to members of the union.

The Financial Report of ASMOF has been audited in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. A copy of the Financial Report can be accessed here: 2019 ASMOF Federal Financial Report.

ASMOF prides itself on following robust financial governance principles and policies and we are pleased to report that the attached financial report meets the requirements of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and no anomalies or causes for concern have been identified.

RAC priority breakdown service for health care workers

RAC is offering every Western Australian frontline healthcare professional and first responder free breakdown service during COVID-19.

Existing roadside assistance members will have their breakdown call prioritised. RAC will also come to the rescue of non-members with a free roadside assistance call out to get them back on the road.

Those eligible* for the free priority assistance do not need to do anything. If they find themselves in a breakdown situation, they simply need to call RAC on 13 11 11.

*Classic Roadside Assistance Terms and Conditions apply. Health workers and first responders are defined by RAC as medical practitioners, nurses, paramedics, fire fighters and police officers. MRB723

UWA Research Survey: Dental emergencies amongst medical practitioners in Australia

UWA are seeking medical practitioners in Australia to participate in an online anonymous questionnaire titled “Dental emergencies amongst medical practitioners in Australia”.

The survey takes 5-10 minutes - all the answers are in a tick box style (2 pages total). The online survey will be preceded by a participant information page and a consent statement where participants will be required to tick a consent box if they wish to proceed.

More information and the link to participate in the survey can be found online here. 

Please contact Alex Park (alex.park@research.uwa.edu.au) if you require further information/details regarding this study.

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