National campaign against Medicare rebate freeze launched

The AMA has launched a national campaign against the Government’s Medicare patient rebate freeze, with posters and campaign materials being distributed to the AMA’s more than 30,000 members – GPs and all other medical specialists – and will be made available to all doctors and practices around the country.

Federal AMA President, Professor Brian Owler, said that the AMA has been flooded with feedback from doctors and patients since Budget night about the extension of the Medicare freeze until 2020, and people are angry and concerned.

“The Medicare patient rebate freeze extension means that health is going to cost more for all Australians, but particularly the poorest, the sickest, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged,” Professor Owler said.

“The seven-year duration of the freeze until 2020 is a body blow to patients and to medical practices.
 

For more information about the campaign, please click here. 

An alternative poster on the freeze is availaible here.

The Federal AMA has also prepared a series of graphs to illustrate the potential of the MBS indexation freeze on privately insured in-hospital services. These can be accessed by clicking here. 

Improved State Budget but concerns for the future

While improved from last year, the WA 2016-17 State Budget provides little confidence for the medium to long term future of the health sector, the AMA (WA) said today.

“The State Budget boosts health funding by 4.8 per cent and mental health by 1.7 per cent in the coming year. In the current financial situation this is good news,” AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon said.

“But this is quite clearly an election budget with the pain due next year,” he added.

“And with just a 0.3 per cent increase in the 2017-18 year, the future of health is not good.

“While we fully understand the financial position the State Government finds itself in – due to both the slowdown in the global economy and its own spending decisions – we will have to do better than this if we are to prepare properly for the health of all West Australians.”

For more information on the AMA (WA)'s reaction to the 2016 State Budget, please click here.

Update on sexual harassment response

Following the very significant response to the AMA (WA)'s survey on sexual harassment in the workplace, the Assocation has undertaken a number of actions to bring attention to the issue and highlight the AMA (WA)’s zero tolerance attitude.
 

The actions included drawing the survey results to the attention of all university medical schools as well as private and public sector employers of doctors. 

As members would be aware, the issue was the prime focus of the AMA (WA)’s April edition of Medicus. More recently, the AMA (WA) has secured agreement from the Director General of Health to establish a Taskforce of doctors whose role will be to find solutions.

The first meeting took place on Tuesday 17 May 2016 at the AMA (WA) headquarters in Nedlands. An update on the meeting will be provided to members in the near future.

If members have questions about this matter please contact Marcia Kuhne at the AMA (WA).

AMA (WA) AGM set for 8 June 2016

Members are advised that the AMA (WA) Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 June, at the Association’s headquarters in Nedlands, starting at 6pm.

Members who attend will be invited to join in the discussion on AMA (WA) business and enjoy the fellowship of colleagues.

Refreshments will be served before the meeting.

For more information please contact the Secretariat on (08) 9273 3008.

Update on negotiations for salaried doctors

Public sector

The AMA (WA) served a log of claims on the Minister for Health on 3 March 2016 seeking negotiations on replacement agreements for public sector doctors to apply from 1 October 2016. 
 

Having not been able to secure a commencement date for negotiations after several requests, despite an obligation in each of the public sector agreements to commence by 1 April, the AMA (WA) wrote to the Director General on 27 April advising that we would seek the assistance of the WA Industrial Relations Commission in resolving the dispute. In response, the Director General has now advised that the DOH will inform us this week of a schedule of meeting dates.

Additional claims are being prepared in respect of clinical academics and doctors employed by WACHS.

If members have questions they should contact the AMA (WA) industrial staff. Updates will also be provided on the website.

Private sector

The AMA (WA) has commenced negotiations with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in respect of a claim for a replacement agreement to apply from 1 July 2016 following consultations with members.

The AMA (WA) has also commenced negotiations with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in respect of a claim for a replacement agreement to apply from 1 October 2016 following discussions with members.

The AMA will keep members informed about progress with negotiations as the process unfolds.

The AMA (WA) is awaiting a response from St John of God Health Care in respect of salaried doctors working at Midland Health Campus and Murdoch Emergency Department. At the same time, meetings have been held with members to seek feedback about key issues to be covered in replacement agreements and the strategy to be adopted in response to the SJOG approach to seeking a single agreement for all salaried doctors.

If members have questions about the negotiations of any of the private sector agreements they should contact the AMA (WA) industrial staff.

New online edition of Medicus now available

The AMA (WA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new and improved online version of Medicus.

Medicus now features realistic page turning, an intuitive reader interface, the ability to search for specific pages or articles and live hyperlinks.



The April edition of Medicus can be viewed here.

AMA (WA) 2016 Clinical Conference

Following the very successful 2015 conference to South Africa, the AMA (WA) is pleased to confirm that the 2016 AMA (WA) Clinical Conference will this year be held in Boston and Washington DC, with a post conference tour of New York.

For those who have travelled with the AMA before you will already know that our conferences are highly regarded and that there is a significant element of trust in what we do. 

The clinical component of the conference is well underway and is being developed in collaboration with the Harvard University Medical School.

The conference will take place from 7 October - 22 October, with four nights in Boston, three nights in Washington DC and an optional four nights in New York.

The formal part of the conference will be in Boston although we are extending part of the clinical conference to include Washington DC. We fully expect that some of you may want to spend a few more days in NY or seek to travel to other destinations in the US.

For more information, please click here.

For registration, please click here.

AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner

Bookings are now open for the AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner and Awards Night to be held on Saturday 25 June 2016 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Please join us for a magical night of celebration, entertainment and prizes.

For all queries or to reserve your table at the dinner, please contact Skye Connor on 9273 3028 or via email.

Bookings can also be made on the AMA (WA) website.

Please note, following your completed online registration you will be redirected to the AMA (WA) homepage, and a confirmation email of your successful booking will be sent to your email address.

2016/2017 Federal Budget Update - how will the Budget affect you?

This year's Federal Budget was not your typical Budget.

While there were certainly some major alterations to superannuation, in other areas, such as Centrelink, there were only minor changes.

The AMA Financial Services team has summarised some of the key points from the Budget below and how they may impact you. Please note these are proposals only and are subject to the passing of legislation, and should be discussed with your financial adviser.

• Introduction of a $500,000, lifetime, non-concessional superannuation contribution cap.
• A new transfer balance cap of $1.6 million on superannuation that can be held in pension phase.
• Changes that reduce the tax-effectiveness of transition to retirement strategies.
• Reduction of the superannuation annual concessional cap to $25,000, regardless of age.
• Introduction of ‘catch-up’ superannuation concessional
• contributions for those with super balances under $500,000.

For more information, please click here. 

AMA National Conference 2016

With the chance of an early Federal election in July, the AMA National Conference in Canberra in May is the perfect opportunity to put the national spotlight on health policy.

The AMA 2016 Conference will be a showcase of politics, policy, and medical professionalism.

Featured speakers on opening day are Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (tbc), Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Health Minister Sussan Ley (tbc), Shadow Health Minister Catherine King, and Greens Leader Senator Dr Richard Di Natale.

Date: Friday 27 May - Sunday 29 May

For more information, please click here. 

For registration, please click here. 

Book now and save for GP16

It’s time to start planning your attendance at GP16 – The RACGP conference for general practice.

GP16 is Australia’s premier event for general practice and offers the opportunity to earn both Category 1 and Category 2 QI&CPD points through a range of active learning modules (ALMs), workshops, sessions, short paper presentations and CPR workshops.

GP16 also features one of Australia’s largest general practice exhibitions and an exciting social program full of networking opportunities.

Register before 15 July 2016, to save up to $100 with early bird rates*.

For more information and registration, please click here. 

GP needed for Northern Suburbs Clinic

AMA Recruit is looking for a GP to start up at a Northern Suburbs clinic.This is a great opportunity to work with an excellent team of well-respected GPs, at their new clinic in Butler - only 35 minutes from the CBD. 

For full details and applications, please click here. 
 

Survey on skin cancer

The AMA has been running an ongoing skin cancer public health campaign. Nearly 13,000 people in Australia were diagnosed with invasive melanoma last year and previous research indicates the need to refresh current public awareness programs.

If you would like to help the AMA skin cancer awareness campaign and haven't already completed the survey, you can take our survey.

It should only take five minutes and will provide valuable data to propel the campaign forward.

Once the survey is completed we will share the research results with members as well as use it to continue our public health campaign.

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