Published by the Medical Observer It’s about time for Canberra to commit to evidence-based health policies. We’ve been hearing it over and over again: healthcare costs are out of control, but the only solutions brought forward to rein in expenditure are a Medicare rebate freeze and the introduction of a compulsory GP co-payment. Those measures are short-sighted, but even worse, they are neither evidence-based nor … Continue reading Canberra is scapegoating GPs and it needs to stop

Published by Croakey  Hardly a week goes by without media, politicians and medical lobby groups arguing about bulk billing rates. As the about to be defunded ‘ABC Fact Check’ pointed out recently, ‘bulk billing rates’ for non referred attendances (which includes visits to a GP, but not to services in hospitals or other medical practitioners) were 85.8% this year. That represents an increase from 2007, … Continue reading Bulk billing numbers have been subject to political spin for too long

Published by The Medical Republic GPs only account for 5% of total health expenditure, yet this is where the government chooses to make cuts, writes Dr Bastian Seidel “I was in and out in two minutes, and they told me that I needed a new referral and also that you should backdate it.” I’ve lost count of how often I have heard my patients saying … Continue reading With Medicare rebates, specialists are very special

Published by The Medical Republic Doctors have mobilised in opposition to the Medicare rebate freeze, with more than 200 people gathering at a lunchtime #SaveMedicare rally in Hobart on Friday The rally was arranged by Unions Tasmania, which includes the Health & Community Services Union, Community & Public Sector Union and Australian Midwifery & Nursing Federation. Professor Bastian Seidel, who is a Huon Valley GP … Continue reading RACGP candidate speaks out at rally

Published by The Medical Republic Preparing the federal health budget is quite similar to making a cake. It’s got to be very tasty, it should look good and one has to be mindful that everybody wants a rather large slice. But essentially, as the leading patisserie chefs would tell you, it’s all about substantial ingredients and some nice flavour. I appreciate that the flavours of … Continue reading Health funding should follow the evidence

Published by The Medical Republic When patients are required to be proactive decision makers, the health system is often casting a very reluctant hero into the role. Looking at the most recent federally funded health programs, it struck me that it’s become commonplace to talk about “consumer-centric” mental health care packages and “client-based” aged care services. Of course, we have long accepted that when discussing … Continue reading I specialise in patients, not consumers, clients or users

Published by CheckUp ONE wonders whether there is method in the madness of defunding general practice by suggesting co-payments, Medicare rebate freezes and, more recently, conducting complete reviews on how the management of chronic diseases in general practice is meant to be remunerated. One justificative phrase I’ve come across multiple times is ‘there’s no evidence for this…  there’s no evidence for that, therefore we’re going … Continue reading Why the future of primary care research is at risk