SWSLHN and Bowral's Health - 10

Budget cuts to mental health rebates slammed

11th May 2011

Mark O’Brien   all articles by this author

DOCTORS’ groups have accused the Government of devaluing the role of GPs in mental health care following its move to dramatically cut rebates for mental health plans in last night’s Budget.

The Gillard Government’s $2.2 billion mental health care package has been widely welcomed by consumer and community groups – however, it comes with a sting in the tail for GPs. In a major overhaul of the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, GPs’ rebates for drawing up mental health plans will be scaled back significantly, saving the Government an estimated $405.9 million over the next four years.

In addition, the number of psychologist, psychiatrist or other allied health professional visits a patient can now access under the scheme will be capped at a maximum of 10.
“This is not the right approach. Devaluing the role of family doctors is a backward step that will seriously fragment medical and mental health care for those people who need it in the community,” said AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce.
“Family doctors are the preferred entry point for mental health care but the Government is now making it harder for people to get access to the care they need and reducing the amount of time that patients can spend with their GP.”

The Better Access cuts are likely to overshadow other wins for GPs, particularly the $75.5 million measure that will allow them to refer patients for some MRI services on the MBS.

Treasurer Wayne Swan defied pre-Budget speculation he would cut NHMRC funding and made several new commitments to healthcare, including $1.8 billion for rural health infrastructure, a $613 million boost to the national immunisation program and $139 to continue the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program over the next four years.

The Government is meanwhile also set to expand the existing health checks of four year olds to include consideration of emotional wellbeing and development in three year olds. The measures, allocated $11 million over five years, will include funding for a National Expert Group to develop and provide advice relating to the checks and training requirements for health providers.

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Comments:

Docmus
11th May 2011
12:16pm

Don't know whether to laugh or cry at the stupidity of the government reducing allied mental health visits to improve mental health. Perhaps there should be a parliamentarian pay cut to encourage improved political decision making.

11th May 2011
1:27pm

What to do about patients with chronic mental illnesses who require, at least, one visit per month???

 

TIBOR
11th May 2011
3:32pm

We have had the 'carrot' and now the 'stick'. That is how new government initiatives are introduced. Doctors will just have to decide if they want a pay cut and continue to give mental care plans or opt out totally. The pressure will continue to be on by patients and allied health, as they have become accustomed to the remuneration. Same thing occurred with immunisation and chronic illnesses. This is no surprise, as this is always the ploy. Having never been involved in the scheme, as I did not want to be told how to suck eggs, it will not impact on my practice, however the larger corporate practices will be the hardest hit, as they have used it as a gravy train.

 

ed
11th May 2011
4:05pm

Dear Tibor,
Just think about that GP who works for a Corporate and goes to different medical centres explaining how to do care plans, and Mental health plans. This doctor made $560,000 last year from Care Plans alone. This year the income will drop by 70%. No more Ferrari just Ford Falcon

 

Babyteeth
11th May 2011
4:21pm

The system was abused Drs, that is why it was being cut. Of the many PD Patients sent to my Practice to create a scene, by the GP down the road, many of these Patients went back to the same GP for a debriefing and psychological counselling and to discuss how mean and crazy I was for kicking them out for their intolerable and disruptive behaviour. It is extreme examples of criminal abuse of the system, such as this, and GP misdiagnosis and inefficiency, that has led to it being dropped. Mind you, I don't know if the Psychiatrists will do any better. Medical Corporates abuse and destroy everything they touch, and they are your real enemy in all of this.

 

TIBOR
11th May 2011
5:34pm

That's an amazing story ed!

 

GP JOHN
13th May 2011
4:31pm

Agree tibor. It was a gravy train for greedy corporates and greedy doctors who may now have to lease holdens!!
Same for psychologists who have mushroomed all over australiaon the back of it!!

 

KarynPsych
21st May 2011
1:30pm

The Better Access program cuts are a direct challenge to all the professionals involved in this well regarded and evaluated program. The program works due to the shared care team approach between psychologists (such as myself) and the skills and time dedicated to assessment by our GP peers. I ask that my fellow medical professionals become political for the sake of our patients on this issue. The OT's and social workers patients showed that unilateral cuts to services would not be tolerated in 2010 and with the right pressure this too will be reversed. Please do not continue to repeat the furphy that allied health rebates are cut from 12 to 10. This is political spin at its finest. Compare apples with apples, the rebates are halved for the patient not experiencing changes in their presentation from 12 rebates with a GP review between 6 consults by GPs with a possibility of 6 exceptional circumstances consultations (12+6) to patients having access to only 6 appointments with the option of 4 more for "extreme cases" (6+4). I know the media have been stating that this is a cut in rebate for only 2 appointments yet again the media did not represent GP devaluation properly either in repeating "good news" mantra.