PBAC approval of HIV drug a major step forward for at-risk populations The recent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee approval of a ground-breaking HIV drug will allow men who have sex with men to retain control over their own sexual health, GP and sexual health advocate Dr George Forgan-Smith told newsGP.
Working to cut red tape in general practice The RACGP will address the Senate Red Tape Committee inquiry into Health Services, focusing on a number of key issues for Australian GPs.
Accepting gifts: How much is too much? Would you accept bottles of wine every couple of months from a patient? A $200 gift voucher for a meal? An envelope containing $1000 in cash? A recent disciplinary hearing involving a GP considered all of these issues.
What the new after-hours rebates mean for GPs The Federal Government’s recent changes to Medicare rebates are designed to better reflect the qualifications of doctors providing urgent after-hours care.
RACGP welcomes changes to after-hours care rebates President Dr Bastian Seidel has applauded Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt for heeding the RACGP’s concerns and implementing evidence-based adjustments to after-hours Medicare rebates.
After-hours care not value for money The current structure of after-hours healthcare provision in Australia ‘supports the provision of comparatively low-value medical care and does not represent value for money for the taxpayer’, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce has found in its final report.
After-hours services facing ‘day of reckoning’ The RACGP has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to launch an investigation into after-hours medical services following News Corp reports it is using unqualified doctors to treat patients.