The AMA shares the view of the Horvath Review of Medicare Locals that the organisations need a major overhaul.
AMA Vice President, Professor Geoffrey Dobb, said today that the AMA had for many years called for an investigation into Medicare Locals and was very supportive of the Horvath Review, including providing a detailed submission calling for changes.
“The AMA welcomes many of the recommendations of the Horvath Review,” Professor Dobb said.
“Medicare Locals are in urgent need of a shake-up.
“They are inconsistent, overly bureaucratic, duplicate services, and do not truly represent the best interests or key role of GPs as the leaders in primary health care.
“The Review concurs with the AMA view that the performance of Medicare Locals has been highly variable.
“Some have achieved a great deal, but as a network they have failed to present a compelling argument to continue in their current form. They must be remodelled and restructured.
“Importantly, the Review found that Medicare Locals have generally failed to appropriately involve or engage with GPs despite their role at the centre of the primary care system.
“In its submission, the AMA recommended a name change for Medicare Locals to allow people to better relate to their role and function, and that is also one of the Review’s recommendations.
“The Review acknowledges that GPs are the cornerstone of integrated primary care and that future ‘Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)’ will need to rebuild relationships with general practice and ensure that GPs are engaged – both at governance and operation levels.
“The advice of GPs is critical to ensure that precious health dollars are spent wisely and are properly targeted to achieve the greatest benefits for patients.
“It is no surprise to the AMA that the Review found that Medicare Locals have been duplicating existing services, which is a waste of valuable resources. Future PHOs should only provide services where there is clear evidence of market failure.
“The AMA acknowledges the need for a network of primary health organisations that help improve the coordination of primary care, improve outcomes for patients and potentially take pressure off the hospital system.
“The previous Government correctly identified the need, but they got the model wrong. The AMA is keen to work with the Government to make sure we get the model right this time around,” Professor Dobb said.
Source: AMA