Mediation failure forces divisions to quit ML merger
24th Oct 2011 Byron Kaye all articles by this author
Medical Observer
DOUBTS about the federal government’s Medicare Local (ML) boundaries have re-emerged after mediation between two Sydney division-led bodies, aimed at forcing them into a single ML, collapsed.
Souring relations between a Bankstown division-led consortium and a group led by Macarthur and Southern Highlands divisions prior to the first ML deadline had previously prompted the AGPN to appoint a mediator so the parties could form an ML by next year.
But mediation has since failed, with Macarthur-Southern Highlands having now lodged its own bid, which could see it handed responsibility for the 35 practices it is locked in a feud with.
A Macarthur spokesperson told MO the group would not agree to further mediation until the fate of the ML had been decided.
Bankstown chair Dr Susan Harnett said if the department of health would not force Macarthur-Southern Highlands into more mediation, it should simply split the ML in two.
“It’s such an enormous area with so many complex needs and organisations,” she said.
Dr Brian Morton, chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, warned divisions to settle their differences or risk having general practice “locked out” of MLs. A department spokesperson said the awarding of tenders took into account the applicants’ “ability to engage with key stakeholders”.
Well, it seems the fickle finger of fate has written on the wall of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice! Christmas is beginning to look gloomy for the CEO and Board of the local Division.
The final paragraph of the statement above is pretty clear about what causes a Division like the Macarthur - Southern Highlands consortium being "locked out" of Medicare Locals because they can't settle their differences. Certainly the Department of Health and Aging representative suggesting the criteria of the applicant's "ability to engage with key stakeholders" does not apply to the SHDGP's involvement with local people, public and private health practitioners and NGOs. Telling key stakeholders after the event what the SHDGP has done to apply for Medicare Local funding is hardly consulting or engaging, with them.
The other bit of mis-information the Chair of the SHDGP published in his lengthy column in the Division's last newsletter was that the mediation between the Macarthur-Southern Highlands consortium ended because the Bankstown GP Division put in their own application. However, the report published above suggests that it was the Macarthur-Southern Highlands consortium who withdrew from the mediation to lodge their own submission first. Further, the Macarthur spokesperson stated that they would not engage in any further mediation until after the outcome of the second series of Medicare Local allocations had been resolved. It seems they are hoping to get in and only then use their improved position to hammer away at the Bankstown GP Division.
"Bankstown chair Dr Susan Harnett said if the department of health would not force Macarthur-Southern Highlands into more mediation, it should simply split the ML in two.
“It’s such an enormous area with so many complex needs and organisations,” she said."
DOUBTS about the federal government’s Medicare Local (ML) boundaries have re-emerged after mediation between two Sydney division-led bodies, aimed at forcing them into a single ML, collapsed.
Souring relations between a Bankstown division-led consortium and a group led by Macarthur and Southern Highlands divisions prior to the first ML deadline had previously prompted the AGPN to appoint a mediator so the parties could form an ML by next year.
But mediation has since failed, with Macarthur-Southern Highlands having now lodged its own bid, which could see it handed responsibility for the 35 practices it is locked in a feud with.
A Macarthur spokesperson told MO the group would not agree to further mediation until the fate of the ML had been decided.
Bankstown chair Dr Susan Harnett said if the department of health would not force Macarthur-Southern Highlands into more mediation, it should simply split the ML in two.
“It’s such an enormous area with so many complex needs and organisations,” she said.
Dr Brian Morton, chair of the AMA Council of General Practice, warned divisions to settle their differences or risk having general practice “locked out” of MLs. A department spokesperson said the awarding of tenders took into account the applicants’ “ability to engage with key stakeholders”.
Well, it seems the fickle finger of fate has written on the wall of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice! Christmas is beginning to look gloomy for the CEO and Board of the local Division.
The final paragraph of the statement above is pretty clear about what causes a Division like the Macarthur - Southern Highlands consortium being "locked out" of Medicare Locals because they can't settle their differences. Certainly the Department of Health and Aging representative suggesting the criteria of the applicant's "ability to engage with key stakeholders" does not apply to the SHDGP's involvement with local people, public and private health practitioners and NGOs. Telling key stakeholders after the event what the SHDGP has done to apply for Medicare Local funding is hardly consulting or engaging, with them.
The other bit of mis-information the Chair of the SHDGP published in his lengthy column in the Division's last newsletter was that the mediation between the Macarthur-Southern Highlands consortium ended because the Bankstown GP Division put in their own application. However, the report published above suggests that it was the Macarthur-Southern Highlands consortium who withdrew from the mediation to lodge their own submission first. Further, the Macarthur spokesperson stated that they would not engage in any further mediation until after the outcome of the second series of Medicare Local allocations had been resolved. It seems they are hoping to get in and only then use their improved position to hammer away at the Bankstown GP Division.
"Bankstown chair Dr Susan Harnett said if the department of health would not force Macarthur-Southern Highlands into more mediation, it should simply split the ML in two.
“It’s such an enormous area with so many complex needs and organisations,” she said."
This suggestion by Dr Harnett is Solomon-like in its simplicity. The Medicare Local could be split in two. However, in order for the Bankstown GP Division to achieve the numerical population quota set by DoHA, required for MLs it is likely that they may have to extract from Macarthur-Southern Highlands some of the territory that they acquired prior to the implementation of the Medicare Locals.
Can I see these empire-building expansionists willing to hand over territory? Not likely!
