27 September 2007

Government fee review process not working: IPA Council

Government controls on GPs’ fees are overly bureaucratic and unnecessary, the IPA Council says.

Debate over Government controls on fees has ignited this week after National confirmed it would do away with the current fee review process.

The fee review process forces many doctors to go through a review in order to increase their fees, in return for government funded patient subsidies. The system aims to control GPs’ fees without any assurances that the Government’s subsidies will keep up with the rising costs of delivering services, IPA Council Chair Dr Bev O’Keefe said today.

“We support patients having access to affordable general practice but low cost access is dependent on the Government maintaining the value of its subsidies, and governments historically have a very poor record in doing this,” Dr O’Keefe said.

“In addition, the fee review process is time-consuming, bureaucratic, and expensive for GPs, most of whom behave with absolute integrity in passing on government subsidies.”

The system was contributing to fewer doctors going into general practice, and others choosing to leave general practice. That meant patients having less choice and more restricted access to primary health care, Dr O’Keefe said.

“A better process could involve auditing the few practices that appear to be acting in isolation from the majority.”

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