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rebates
The following articles have the tag rebates
‘Hands off Medicare’, AMA tells government
SPECULATION of a potential freeze on MBS rebates has led to a call from doctors for the government to keep its “hands off Medicare” ahead of next week’s federal budget.
Rebate rise may save addiction specialty
ADDICTION medicine specialists have called for an urgent increase in MBS rebate levels, arguing the lack of adequate remuneration could lead to the demise of the specialty.
GFC could raise GP co-payments
PRIMARY care escaped Treasurer Wayne Swan’s pruning shears in last week’s emergency mini-budget, but health policy experts have warned another global financial crisis could raise the possibility of increased co-payments for GP visits in 2012.
GPs want to reward loyal patients with higher rebates
DOCTORS have called for higher rebates for patients who stick with one general practice, after new data indicated that patients with chronic conditions who identify as having a ‘medical home’ rate their overall health outcomes better.
Better Access cuts will go back into mental health: Roxon
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has given GPs a guarantee that every cent saved through the controversial cuts to the Better Access scheme will be reinvested elsewhere in mental health services.
Nurse practitioners claim $700,000 in MBS services
NURSE practitioners (NPs) have claimed more than $700,000 in MBS services during the first 11 months since the profession was granted access to Medicare rebates in November last year.
Govt too busy making other plans for GPs
CUTTING the rebates for mental health plans once again brings into sharp focus the way in which the medical profession is led by the government. Rebates for plans complicate the work of most family GPs, but for a few they are a Godsend staving off an impecunious demise. The back-referral has confronted nearly every GP. Psychologists would probably win the race for sending patients to their GP for a referral to unlock Medicare rebates. Dentists would be a close second. It seems that these days everyone needs a psychologist. There are many who would agree that ...
Calls for mental health rebate cuts to be reversed
FEDERAL Parliament has been urged to seek savings in programs such as the GP super clinics and Medicare Locals in order to save rebates for GP mental health plans which were slashed significantly in the recent Budget. In a letter to all Federal MPs and senators, the AMA has today requested the rebate cuts be axed, arguing that the decision was made with no prior consultation with the profession and would undermine the Government’s own push to bolster mental health services. The letter came as Mental Health Minister Mark Butler today repeated his claims that GPs were ...
Election health promises hang in the balance
GPs appear no closer to knowing what direction health system reform will take with both major parties still courting the support of independents they will require to form government. Labor’s sweeping health reforms, including the future of 23 new GP super clinics and its controversial $436 million patient enrolment and pay-for-performance diabetes scheme, now hang in the balance. Similarly, the Coalition’s promises to scrap the super clinics initiative and increase rebates for long consultations, after-hours work and practice nurses also remain in doubt. RACGP president Dr Chris Mitchell said while it was difficult to know what ...
GP income threatened by new diabetes scheme
GPs will need to look closely at their practice contracts to ensure their personal earnings don’t take a hit under the Government’s new diabetes scheme. The $436 million scheme will see practices awarded block-funding for each patient they enrol, plus an average bonus payment of $10,800 per year based partly on their performance in keeping patients healthy. Block funding will consist of annual payments of $1200 per enrolled patient, which will be split $950 for general practices and $250 for allied care. It remains unclear, however, whether the $250 for ...
Mental health plan training unveiled
THE Federal Health Department has finally released guidance on the controversial new measures that will force GPs to undertake extra training to access higher MBS rebates for drawing up mental health care plans. GPs will now be required to complete level 1 mental health skills training or face a rebate cut of $30.90, from $156.85 to $125.95. The required training was introduced with the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program in July 2001. However, GPs who have undertaken equivalent training in mental health care predating the level 1 training, or those who believe they have ...
Money no carrot for home visits
TIME and not money is the major factor influencing GPs’ decisions to abandon the traditional home visit as a core part of practice. Less than half of doctors regularly conduct home visits, despite more than 70% of them believing they provide good patient care, an MO survey has revealed. The survey of 150 GPs by Cegedim Strategic Data revealed only 44.7% of doctors would be encouraged to carry out more home visits by further increases in rebates or new items, despite calls for higher rebates in the media earlier this year. Tasmanian GP Dr ...