RACGP presidential forum – Tuesday 19 June
An RACGP presidential forum will be held on the evening of Tuesday 19 June at ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne.
The forum provides the presidential candidates an opportunity to engage with members and present their election platform.
Topics for discussion:
- How will GP education need to change to stay relevant to patient expectations of care?
- How can the RACGP support practices to ensure viability?
Panel:
- Ms Ali Moore – Host, experienced journalist and broadcaster
- Dr Tim Koh – Chair RACGP Council
- Dr Bruce Willett (Qld) – Presidential candidate
- Dr Jags Krishnan (WA) – Presidential candidate
- Dr Harry Nespolon (NSW) – Presidential candidate
The Presidential candidates’ profiles, CVs and election platforms can be found on the RACGP website.
Places are limited. Please email media@racgp.org.au if you are interested in attending the forum, or to put forward a question or item for discussion.
Seasonal influenza vaccination update
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has released over 10 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccines due to significant demand from the National Immunisation Program (NIP), state programs and the private market – this is approximately 32% higher than the 8.3 million doses released in all of 2017.
Additional quadrivalent vaccines will arrive shortly, ahead of the anticipated peak period of seasonal influenza transmission of August or September. Vaccinating in June and July provides sufficient time for immunity to develop.
RACGP members are encouraged to contact local immunisation service providers, state or territory health departments or Primary Health Networks to let them know if you have vaccines available, as this will make it easier for patients to access vaccines in your local area.
Vaccine availability has been reported to vary across providers. Given this, we encourage you to manage supplies carefully to ensure all eligible people can access a vaccine and avoid wastage at the end of the season.
The RACGP will continue to provide updates on this matter as information is received via the Department of Health.
In Practice poll results – Remuneration for reports to insurers
Reports for insurers can be complex, requiring time and expertise to complete. As such, it is reasonable for GPs to expect appropriate remuneration for completing such reports. The RACGP is aware that some insurers will seek or accept a patient record in lieu of a completed report. Some GPs, in the absence of appropriate remuneration, will provide the record to an insurer instead of spending the effort required to create a report.
The RACGP asked members whether remuneration was a motivating factor in preparing reports for insurers. Two thirds (66%) of respondents said they only ever commit the required time and effort to prepare reports when there is appropriate remuneration provided. Most other respondents (28%) said that appropriate remuneration had some effect on their ability to write a report, depending on the size and detail required. Only 6% of respondents said they provide reports regardless of whether there is appropriate remuneration. In some circumstances where insurers offered an inappropriate fee to prepare a report, GPs needed to negotiate a more suitable fee before completing the request.
Members noted it is in the insurer’s best interest to pay an appropriate fee and receive a report containing accurate and timely information, than spend further cost and time on seeking additional information further down the track.
The RACGP thanks all poll respondents for taking time to provide feedback, which will help us to develop further information for GPs and insurers.