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MDA National

The following articles have the tag MDA National

GP premiums could skyrocket if cerebral palsy patients sue

THE National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) could drive up GP premiums if the federal government follows through with plans to let and in some cases order patients with cerebral palsy to sue their doctor, medical indemnifiers have warned.

A doctor’s life in technicolour glory

AN AUSTRALIAN doctor has won the accolade for the Best International Medical Film in the 2012 Cannes Corporate and Media Awards.

Profession prepared to endorse PCEHR contract

DOCTORS’ groups and MDOs are ready to endorse the government’s e-health records contract almost three months after MO’s report about the first draft of the contract sparked outrage across the profession.

Last minute talks trigger 'breakthrough' in e-heath endorsement

DOCTORS' groups and MDOs are ready to endorse the government’s e-health records contract almost three months after MO’s report on the first draft of the contract sparked outrage across the profession.

Fast forward - 15 May 2012

MO looks back 10 years, casting a fresh eye over what made the news in 2002. Then we hit the fast-forward button to see what’s changed.

MDOs join call for e-health delay

MEDICAL defence organisations have added to the chorus urging the government to delay the launch of the personally controlled e-health record (PCEHR) and warned GPs will have to overhaul their practices to comply with the system’s data security provisions.

We’re not obsessive, civil libertarians tell Roxon

CIVIL libertarians have hit back at Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s comments labelling privacy and civil liberties groups as obsessive with regard to their fears of the risks of the government’s personally controlled e-health records (PCEHR) system. Civil Liberties Australia (CLA) today renewed calls for Ms Roxon to improve the planned safeguards to ward against data theft and patient records being accessed by those without appropriate permissions. Answering media questions last week regarding the Privacy Foundation’s fears, Ms Roxon urged the foundation to embrace the possibilities of new technology and suggested the electronic ...

Webber wants PSR powers expanded

FORMER Professional Services Review (PSR) director Dr Tony Webber has told a Senate inquiry the watchdog’s powers should be expanded so it can take on corporate practices. While appearing before the inquiry into the processes of PSR committees yesterday, Dr Webber told senators the “corporatisation of medicine” had changed it forever, while Medicare still operated on the “honour system” and legislation had struggled to keep pace. “No other system allows the recipient of commonwealth funds to determine the level of their remuneration,” he said. “[The legislation] has come to ...

GPs ‘victimised’ by PSR, Senate told

DOCTORS feel they are being victimised by Medicare and the PSR process, which fails to take account of the complexities of general practice, a Senate inquiry has been told. The claims were made in submissions to the inquiry into the operations of the PSR from medical indemnity organisations Avant, MDA National and the Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS). All raised concerns that GPs felt singled out by the PSR process and have called on the government to overhaul MBS compliance measures. MIPS, in its submission, said many GPs continued to hold a view that the “Medicare ...

Nurse medico-legal risk under scrutiny

Doctors’ groups will be seeking urgent clarification around the medico-legal risks of collaborative arrangements with nurse practitioners (NPs) when they meet with medical defence organisations this week. The AMA-convened summit comes amid growing concern that GPs could be unwittingly exposed to legal risks when working with or obtaining test results from independent NPs outside of collaborative arrangements. Representatives from doctors’ groups, nurse groups, medical defence organisations and the Federal Health Department are expected to discuss a number of scenarios involving NPs, including working with the Revive Clinics.   Their ongoing concerns were highlighted last month when ...

Courts delay GP’s return to work

A Sydney GP who was deregistered for four months after a family emergency prevented him from attending a compulsory drug test has finally been able to return to work – 14 months after the order was made. Dr Jason Martin was placed on the impaired registrants program in 2004, and compulsory drug testing was made part of his critical compliance orders.  But in July 2009 he missed a test when his wife went into labour and suffered a post-partum haemorrhage.  Critical compliance orders stipulate breaches will result in automatic deregistration. The orders, which are only in ...

Medico-legal matters cause doctors the most anxiety

INVOLVEMENT in medico-legal processes is one of the biggest predictors of psychiatric morbidity among doctors, Australian research has shown, prompting experts to call for greater education on the issue. A study of nearly 3000 medical practitioners found that of all work-related factors, dealing with a current medico-legal matter was most associated with psychiatric morbidity – more so than long working hours or lack of holidays.  Lead researcher Dr Louise Nash, psychiatrist at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, said that given the research also found that 65% of doctors would be involved in medico-legal matters at some point ...

Doctors reluctant to report peers

Doctors reluctant to report peers

DOUBTS have been cast on the effectiveness of mandatory reporting systems, after a US study revealed that more than a third of medical practitioners are not committed to reporting impaired or incompetent colleagues. A survey of almost 3000 physicians revealed that only 64% agreed they should report all instances of significant impairment or incompetence. Of the 17% who had witnessed reportable misconduct, only 67% of those had reported it to the appropriate authority.  The main reasons for not taking action included the belief that someone else was taking care of the problem, the belief that nothing would ...

Holiday handovers step by step

The bags are packed and you’re ready to race out the door for a well-earned break while the locum steps in. Amanda Sheppeard has some tips to ensure all runs smoothly while you’re away.

Spotting a doctor shopper

Can you identify a doctor shopper? And what are your obligations when it comes to prescribing drugs of addiction? Caroline Brettingham-Moore asks the experts.

Beyond the board

Seeking compensation: let me count the ways. Amanda Sheppeard looks at some of the options available to patients.

Support services minimise risk and add value

Click here for Medical Observer 's at-a-glance indemnity guide: What MDOs cover MEDICAL insurers have a deeply vested interest in minimising risk for doctors, because premium price is directly related to the cost and number of claims. Besides their core business of providing medical indemnity insurance and legal services for healthcare providers, all insurers offer 24-hour advice, risk management education and various publications as extra benefits. The form and flexibility of these extras may be a significant influence on doctors’ choice of insurer. “There are things the Government requires policies to provide, ...

The current state of play on indemnity

Choosing the right insurance is a difficult and important decision, but this special Medical Observer guide will help make that process easier. Mary Fallon takes you through your indemnity choices. “THE medical indemnity insurance industry seems extremely stable in 2009,” says Ellen Edmonds-Wilson, CEO of the Medical Indemnity Industry Association of Australia (MIIAA). The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has monitored the industry since the collapse of United Medical Protection in 2002, which prompted wide-ranging legislative reforms. During that time, premiums have been deemed fair and justified for the five medical ...

GPs face pleasure and pain with new indemnity rates

GP medical indemnity insurance premiums are set to shift in the new financial year, with some doctors about to enjoy lower rates, while others will be paying more. Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) has signalled a 5% drop in GP premiums and MDA National members will pay 10% more this coming year. The nation’s largest medical defence organisation, Avant, said the vast majority of its members would be paying the same or lower premiums. MIGA members can also expect to receive a renewal bonus this year, equivalent to 10% of their insurance premium. According to CEO ...

MDO drops the dreaded ‘call’

MDA National members will no longer have the burden of ‘the call’ lurking over their shoulders after it was scrapped from the insurer’s constitution this week. The medical defence organisation (MDO) decided to abandon the call – which commits members to pay around a year’s subscription in times of fiscal difficulty – due to ongoing financial security. The cost of a call could equate to around $5,000 for GPs and up to $30,000 for some specialists. Newly elected MDA National president Associate Professor Julian Rait said all MDOs could adopt the same strategy. “Others are likely ...