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Medicare shake-up helps complex-care patients

Patients with complex medical problems will be given longer appointments to allow quality treatment under a proposed new Medicare overhaul being planned by the Rudd Government.

Simple GP appointments such as writing a script will attract a basic Medicare rebate, while more difficult consultations for chronic conditions such as diabetes will receive extended appointments and higher rebates.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon has announced she wants to simplify the Medicare rebate system and reward quality care by doctors.

At present doctors get paid $33 by Medicare whether they spend six minutes or 20 minutes with a patient. “We need to ensure there is no financial disincentive to providing quality care.”

Ms Roxon said she wanted Medicare reform to begin early in 2008 but had not committed to any specific increase in the rebate.

The Australian Medical Association is backing a simplification of the system while the Australian General Practice Network wants an increase in Medicare rebates, but called for a new way of funding complex cases.

Instead of Medicare paying a doctor each time the patient goes to the surgery, the doctor would get an annual budget to manage a chronically ill patient. A diabetes patient, for example, would have to register with a doctor who would then get paid to manage their diabetes on an annual basis.

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