SWSLHD and Bowral's Health - 44

We’ll fight cuts, GP groups vow

24th Oct 2011 Byron Kaye   all articles by this author

Medical Observer


GP LEADERS have vowed to keep fighting the “very dangerous policy” of cutting mental health rebates, after a survey found half of family doctors were dissatisfied with their efforts to stop it.

A survey of 150 GPs nationwide, carried out by Cegedim on behalf of MO, found an overwhelming 95% of respondents did not feel their views and experiences with mental health had been “adequately taken into account by government” in the  push for mental health reform.

But the survey also found the disquiet went further than government with 54% answering “no” when asked: “Are you satisfied with the efforts of the RACGP and AMA in their attempts to convince the government to cancel the cuts?”

The cuts to the Better Access scheme, designed to save about $400 million to fund other mental health services, look set to begin next week unchecked.

From 1 November, existing MBS rebates of $163.35 for a GP mental health plan will be reduced to $85.92 for a plan drawn up in a consultation of 20–29 minutes and $125.43 for one drawn up in a consultation of more than 40 minutes.

The tabling of a mental health Senate inquiry report,  sparked by the cuts, originally due in September and expected to provide advice on their impact, has been delayed. It is understood the report will be released this Friday – just three days before the cuts take effect.

RACGP president Dr Claire Jackson said GPs should be reassured by the quick and cohesive action of both bodies and the AGPN, under the United General Practice Australia banner,  to block the cuts.

“In my presidency it is the most critical issue the profession has faced, and the college was determined to work closely with the AMA and the AGPN,” Dr Jackson said.

“It was very much a team effort to try and bring all our strength to bear on overturning what we think will be a very dangerous policy initiative for the most vulnerable Australians,” she said.

AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton said dissatisfaction with his organisation’s representation came from its inability to prevent the cuts, but he would continue pushing the government to restore them.

The poll also found 31% of GPs would continue to bulk-bill mental health plans despite the cuts, while 39% said they would charge a gap and 13% said they would seek other options.

Tasmanian GP Dr Graeme Alexander said “general practice has been abandoned” by government at state and federal levels but dismissed the AMA and RACGP as “out of touch”.

“We certainly can’t get a political person of any flavour to show leadership and fix [the health system],” he said.
“We have no representative body.”

Tags: Mental Health; MBS; Better Access; AMA; RACGP; Steve Hambleton; Claire Jackson

Comments:

Ross
26th Oct 2011
5:48pm

As a bulk billing GP who derives a considerable part of my income from treating mental health cases my income is set to drop when the new item numbers take effect. This is in addition to rebates not keeping up with inflation. The government continue with their so called reforms to improve General Practice when in fact they are wrecking it.

 

SMS
26th Oct 2011
8:51pm

i am putting a big sign up in my waiting saying gillard and roxon big axe to mental health- so far i have alot of angry patients toward labour government- soon i will have charge a gap payment of $80 for drawing up a mental plan

27th Oct 2011
4:06pm

I very much respect Prof McGorry as a defender of youth mental health. However, in this interview, he seems to narrow the mental health budget debate to youth mental health only. That GPs work with Headspace centers would not be much help to a 32 year old with depression.
That we introduce yet more Medicare item number to differentiate between treating a 20 year old and a 25 year old is only going to give those of us at the front line of service delivery more unnecessary administration issues.
Youth mental health is important but not more important than child mental health or adult mental health. Whilst mental illnesses tend to first manifest in youth, most of the burden of disease is manifested by adults who present to their local GP practices in distress. Surely the government has to appreciate the fact that as an aging society, prevention should be focus, but so too the distribution of resources need to accommodate the current demands in mental health services.

 

Annabel
27th Oct 2011
5:26pm

Well said...Prof McGorry is terrific at championing his cause. Does it need to be at the expense of other mental health needs. Rob Peter to pay Paul. Was there no way of gaining the extra funding for Headspace and EPPIC without alienating the whole General Practice and psychologist Profession? Prof. McGorry is saying that in no other area of health care would one group be pitting itself against another for funding (I doubt this is true) and he seems to be pointing the finger at primary care providers as being the divisive faction.

 

Liz
28th Oct 2011
9:21pm

Having previously worked in Addiction and Mental Health, the Mental Health package available to GPs enabled continuing treatment of this group of patients within the GP environment. The ability to refer these patients to a psychologist also assisted their care significantly because ongoing care was often not available in the public sector. These changes to Medicare are such a retrograde step. Professor McGorry seems to think that transferring funding from GPs who mostly do a good job in supporting mental health patients of all ages, to just one group just doesn't make any sense.