Work with us on Medicare Locals, Roxon tells AMA
27th May 2011 - Medical Observer
Mark O’Brien all articles by this author
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has urged incoming AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton to work with the Government on Medicare Locals and defended the “sensible recalibration” of rebates for GP mental health plans, in a speech to the association’s national conference in Brisbane today.
Ms Roxon urged Dr Hambleton to “stay inside the tent” when it came to discussing Medicare Locals, following ongoing criticisms from the AMA of the rollout of the organisations.
The AMA has called for the rollout to be put on hold until the exact functions Medicare Locals will have are made clearer and GP leadership within their governance structures is assured.
“My message to the AMA, and in particular to Steve as your new president, is to work with us on these changes,” Ms Roxon said.
“Ultimately, as a new president, the choice of how we engage is yours. But my suggestion to you is this: if you’re not sure you like what you see, come and talk to us about it.”
In response, outgoing AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce said the remaining “lack of detail” about the Medicare Locals was “disturbing”, and pledged that the association would maintain its pressure on the Government.
“The Government’s proposal to roll out Medicare Locals is the next big challenge of the AMA,” he told the conference, adding that he was “confident the Government will have to revaluate its position”.
Ms Roxon, meanwhile, defended the recently announced rebate cuts for GP mental health plans outlined in the Federal Budget, saying they were “based on good data and sound reasoning”. ('Calls for mental health rebate cuts to be reversed,'MO, 24 May)
“They are a sensible recalibration of the rebates which GPs receive, designed to better reflect time spent by GPs and bring them in line with other time-based Medicare items – while, importantly, maintaining a premium if GPs have undertaken mental health skills training,” she said.
Ms Roxon said the AMA’s pre-Budget request for $20 billion in health spending without proposing any savings was not sustainable.
“There is an endless range of areas where you can invest to do good in health – but not a bottomless bucket of money with which to do that,” she said.
Later, while answering questions from conference delegates, Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton said a Coalition government would ensure Medicare Locals did not become fund-holding organisations, pledging that their funding would be returned to GPs.
Ms Roxon urged Dr Hambleton to “stay inside the tent” when it came to discussing Medicare Locals, following ongoing criticisms from the AMA of the rollout of the organisations.
The AMA has called for the rollout to be put on hold until the exact functions Medicare Locals will have are made clearer and GP leadership within their governance structures is assured.
“My message to the AMA, and in particular to Steve as your new president, is to work with us on these changes,” Ms Roxon said.
“Ultimately, as a new president, the choice of how we engage is yours. But my suggestion to you is this: if you’re not sure you like what you see, come and talk to us about it.”
In response, outgoing AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce said the remaining “lack of detail” about the Medicare Locals was “disturbing”, and pledged that the association would maintain its pressure on the Government.
“The Government’s proposal to roll out Medicare Locals is the next big challenge of the AMA,” he told the conference, adding that he was “confident the Government will have to revaluate its position”.
Ms Roxon, meanwhile, defended the recently announced rebate cuts for GP mental health plans outlined in the Federal Budget, saying they were “based on good data and sound reasoning”. ('Calls for mental health rebate cuts to be reversed,'MO, 24 May)
“They are a sensible recalibration of the rebates which GPs receive, designed to better reflect time spent by GPs and bring them in line with other time-based Medicare items – while, importantly, maintaining a premium if GPs have undertaken mental health skills training,” she said.
Ms Roxon said the AMA’s pre-Budget request for $20 billion in health spending without proposing any savings was not sustainable.
“There is an endless range of areas where you can invest to do good in health – but not a bottomless bucket of money with which to do that,” she said.
Later, while answering questions from conference delegates, Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton said a Coalition government would ensure Medicare Locals did not become fund-holding organisations, pledging that their funding would be returned to GPs.
