Primary healthcare in Australia needs urgent reform
The new Federal Government was announced this week and I congratulated the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Sussan Ley, the Minister for Rural Health, David Gillespie, and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt.
The first 100 days of this new Federal Government presents us with a crucial window of opportunity for all parties to work together – the RACGP, the profession in general, patients, and other stakeholders – to create generational changes to the nation’s healthcare system.
The first priority for the Federal Government should be the immediate lifting of the freeze on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) general practice-specific patient rebates, a move which would cost $160 million per year – half the cost of private health insurance indexation.
This will enable general practice to maintain the present level of excellence, but is only a stop-gap. A detailed funding model for the future of general practice is an absolute imperative.
The primary healthcare sector needs long-term solutions and innovation, backed up by appropriate evidence-based research, to meet the needs of an ageing and increasingly complex patient population.
The RACGP has practical and actionable proposals that, if implemented, will help ensure Australians continue to have an affordable, high-quality health system.
Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President
Patients with diabetes need not fear recent Federal Government changes to glucose strips
The Federal Government’s recent changes for self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) test strips do not affect people with type 1 diabetes, those using insulin or women with gestational diabetes.
These changes follow research which found limited evidence that SMBG testing can improve blood glucose control, quality of life and long term complications in people with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin. These patients can still continue to access SMBG strips however now require an assessment of their ‘clinical utility’ from their doctor first.
Dr Gary Deed, GP and Chair of the RACGP Diabetes Specific Interest Network, urges patients to talk to their GP about their ongoing need for SMBG testing. This is an opportunity to not only reassess the timeliness of any glucose monitoring but to review all aspects of a patient’s diabetes management, including cardiovascular disease risk assessment, education and strategies to prevent diabetes-related complications.
Visit the Department of Health website for more information about the changes.
Zika virus recommendations revised and updated
GPs and their networks are being advised to view the advice of the Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA). CDNA has reviewed and updated its recommendations regarding the prevention of sexual transmission of Zika virus in Australia.
While Australia does not have local transmission of Zika virus, authorities in Central and Northern Queensland have practised strategies to mitigate the risk of local transmission and continue to review their programs to manage mosquitoes in the state.
Zika virus infection is notifiable in Australia as a flavivirus (unspecified) infection and should be notified to state and territory health departments.
For more information visit the Health.gov.au and Central and Eastern Sydney PHN websites.
Practice Based Assessment Pathway
The RACGP is pleased to announce the Practice Based Assessment Pathway, which will launch as a pilot program for 2017, opening for enrolment on 8 August 2016.
The new pathway replaces the former Practice Based Assessment (PBA) and has been developed in response to a comprehensive review and consultation process.
Further information is available on the RACGP website.
Clinical Pearl
Protecting patients from unnecessary radiation exposure
Patients rely on their GP for education about the risks and benefits of tests, including medical imaging. The risk associated with any single imaging procedure is likely very small, however, the cumulative effect of frequent, repeated or potentially inappropriate imaging on the risk of radiation-induced cancer represents a public health concern.
When considering whether a test utilising ionising radiation is justified, it can be helpful for GPs to ask themselves: Will imaging change my diagnosis or affect my management plan for this person? Is a test that does not employ ionising radiation a feasible option?
To increase awareness about the radiation exposure associated with medical imaging and how to discuss the benefits and risks of imaging with patients, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and the RACGP have developed the educational activity Radiation protection of the patient, which is now available on gplearning.
In Practice poll
Would an RACGP-run medical assisting course for your practice staff be of interest to you?
The RACGP is exploring opportunities for practices to maximise existing resources, recognising the need to maintain long-term practice sustainability.
A medical assisting course for non-clinical practice staff members would expand the role of these staff to include a broad range of administrative functions, combined with tasks to support practitioners in the delivery of patient care (eg, collecting basic specimens and assisting with clinical measurements and procedures).