04 June 2010 MBS Quality Framework Forum
The College this week held its MBS Quality Framework Forum with GPs from around Australia to discuss key issues relating to the future Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and to find approaches and strategies to simplify the MBS.
The forum participants believe that further revisions of the MBS are desperately needed to ensure that general practice can continue to provide high quality and safe comprehensive health care. The forum was facilitated by Dr Beres Wenck, Chair of the RACGP General Practice Advocacy & Support National Standing Committee (GPAS NSC).
Changes to the MBS are crucial if Australia’s healthcare system is to continue to adapt and evolve with our ever-changing health environment. The MBS Quality Framework Forum provided a good opportunity to hear from GPs as to what an ideal MBS would look like and to discuss the future of the MBS.
A number of recommendations were made for the way forward, including the need for preventive health item numbers in line with the College ‘red book’, the need for patient rebates for point-of-care testing, further changes for funding arrangements for practice nurses in addition to recently announced incentive payments and adequate financial remuneration for practitioners who educate our future GPs.
It is our patients who will benefit most from a real, lasting reform to the MBS and the College will continue to advocate for improvements.
M5 Project - RACGP men's health initiative helping men to help themselves
M5 encourages men and those who care about them to recognise the importance of men forming an ongoing relationship with a GP.
