POSTED: 13 JULY 2010

GPs reject Government's plan for diabetes patients

A national AMA survey of GPs has revealed an overwhelming rejection of the Government’s proposed plan for caring for patients with diabetes, with just 4 per cent of the respondents saying they would definitely participate in the new scheme.

The Australian Medical Association’s survey was conducted across all States and Territories, and included urban, regional, and rural and remote GPs, during June 2010.

Other key findings of the survey include:

Just 2 per cent of respondents believe the Government scheme will result in GPs being able to spend more time with their patients with diabetes.

88 per cent of respondents oppose patient enrolment to the scheme.

Just 2.3 per cent of respondents believe the Government’s plan is an improvement on existing Medicare arrangements for patients with diabetes.

91 per cent said they consider the AMA’s comprehensive plan to improve care for patients with complex and chronic diseases, including diabetes, to be superior to the Government’s plan.

98 per cent of respondents feel that there was not adequate consultation with the medical profession by the Government in development of the scheme.

AMA Vice-President and Brisbane GP, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that the survey reinforces the AMA’s strong opposition to the Government scheme.

“From day one, we have said this scheme will not deliver better care for patients with diabetes,” Dr Hambleton said.

“It is a scheme that robs patients of their Medicare rebate entitlements.

“It is a scheme that interferes with the doctor-patient relationship and limits patient choice.

“It is a scheme that imposes arbitrary limits on funding for patient care.

“It is a scheme that must be scrapped before it begins.”

Dr Hambleton said that the AMA has proposed a more comprehensive patient-centred plan for people with complex and chronic disease that recognises the importance of enhancing care for all people with chronic conditions, including diabetes.

“The AMA plan builds on what works and has the overwhelming support of GPs,” Dr Hambleton said.

“We call on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to consult with the AMA and the medical profession to provide people with diabetes with better access to GP-coordinated multidisciplinary care and other important support services.”

The AMA survey produced a list of priorities that GPs believe will lead to better care for patients with complex and chronic disease.  The top two priorities are:

Cut the red tape requirements for Medicare chronic disease items.

Introduce streamlined arrangements in Medicare chronic disease items for GPs to refer patients to allied health services.

Dr Hambleton said the findings of the AMA survey are backed by a survey of diabetes patients conducted by Diabetes Australia-NSW, which shows that the majority of respondents would prefer to continue with current arrangements than move to the new Government scheme.

Diabetes Australia-NSW has indicated support for the comprehensive AMA plan.

“The Government must now realise that its scheme is opposed by patients with diabetes and their doctors, and it is time to have a serious look at the AMA plan,” Dr Hambleton said.

*Based on media release by the AMA