Consumer Info
What is a General Practitioner (GP)
General Practice is part of the Australian Healthcare System. General Practice is often the first point of contact for people seeking health care; therefore GPs (General Practitioners) need to know about a broad range of health concerns. Over 85% of the Australian population sees a GP at least once a year.
How do people become GPs?
- Acceptance into University course eg: Bachelor of Medicine Generally a six year undergraduate course
- Three year General Practice Training program through General Practice Education and Training 3 years which includes: 12 months training within a hospital, 18 months training as a registrar within general practice and 6 months training in an extended skills post (rural post).
- Sit Fellowship exam through Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- If exam is passed apply for Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)
- Once Fellowship has been accepted, apply for a Medicare provider number and practice as a GP.
More information can be found at the Australian Medical Association (AMA): http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-6NK4LM
Overseas Trained Doctors
Doctors that have obtained their medical qualification in another country are able to practice in Australia if they pass the Australian Medical Council (AMC) examination and have undertaken supervised training approved by a State or Territory Medical Board. These measures are in place to ensure overseas trained doctors meet Australian standards and the quality of patient care is maintained.
What is a Division of General Practice and why are they needed?
Divisions of General Practice were established in response to the General Practice Reform Strategy in 1992 encouraging General Practitioners (GPs) to form Divisions of General Practice, or networks of local GPs with the underlying philosophy that more can be achieved by GPs working together than if they remain involved only in their individual practices. Pre Divisions GPs were feeling isolated with little communication among health professionals and working with a lack of professional standards.
The Government was facing issues with health system costs, quality of GP services and the geographical distribution of GPs.
The health care system at this stage had no focus on prevention and provided very little continuity of care.
There are now 30 Divisions of General Practice in Victoria and 119 across Australia that aim to improve health outcomes for patients by encouraging general practitioners to work together with other health professionals to raise the quality of the health service delivery at the local level. Divisions receive the majority of their funding from The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, GPs have the choice to become a member of their local Division. Over 95% of Australian GPs are members of a Division of General Practice.
This enables GPs to:
- Develop a common approach to health issues;
- Become involved in population health;
- Participate in health planning and policy;
- Liaise and co-operate with state and regional health authorities and agencies;
- Develop and manage health programs.
For more information please visit the Australia General Practice Network at: www.agpn.com.au
What is Medicare
Medicare is Australias system to ensure that all Australians have access to medical and hospital care when they need it. It was first introduced by the federal government in 1984. It is financed largely from general taxation revenue, which includes a medicare levy based on a persons taxable income (currently set at 1.5% or 2.5% above a threshold income, for people without private health insurance.
Australian Government funding for Medicare is mainly provided as:
- subsidies for prescribed medicines (with a safety net providing free medicines for the chronically ill) and free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only);
- substantial grants to State and Territory Governments to contribute to the costs of providing access to public hospitals at no cost to patients; and
- specific purpose grants to State/Territory governments and other bodies.
Medicare eligibility
Medicare covers all people normally resident in Australia, except foreign diplomats and their dependants.
People who reside in Australia are eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
- they hold Australian citizenship
- they have been issued with a permanent visa
- they hold New Zealand citizenship, or
- they have applied for a permanent visa; restrictions apply to persons who have applied for a parent visa (other requirements apply).
Visitors from countries with which Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements are covered in certain circumstances. Likewise, Australians visiting these countries are entitled to healthcare under their public health schemes. Agreements are currently in place with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Malta and Ireland.
Bulk billing
Bulk billing is when your doctor bills Medicare directly, accepting the Medicare benefits as full payment for a service. This means if your doctor bulk bills, you cannot be charged a booking fee, administration fee, a charge for bandages, record keeping or a charge by your doctors company.
Many doctors bulk bill some of their patients such as pensioners or health care cardholders. If your doctor bulk bills you will be asked to sign a completed form after the service and will be given a copy.
There are circumstances where more than one service can be provided at the same visit and your doctor is not required to bulk bill each service. (1)
Accounts
If your doctor charges you a fee, you can:
- pay the account and then claim the benefit from Medicare
- claim your unpaid account from Medicare and receive a cheque made out in the doctors name which you give to your doctor along with any outstanding balance
- Medicare usually pays:
- the full Schedule fee for GP services
- 85 per cent of the Schedule fee for other out-of-hospital services
- 75 per cent of the Schedule fee for in-hospital services
The Schedule fee is a fee for service set by the Australian Government and not what your doctor charges you. (1)
Children over 15 can have their own Medicare card.
Further details on eligibility and enrolment are available from Medicare Australia
Phone: 13 20 11 Website: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
If you are experiencing financial hardship, have a chat to your GP, they maybe able to make other arrangements for payments of bills.
Private Health Insurance
Private Health Insurance is for procedures within a hospital and depending on the type of insurance it can also be for a range of Allied Health providers such as Podiatrist, Optometrists and Dentists. Private Health Insurance doesnt cover visit to GPs.
References
1)Medicare online How does Medicare Work
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/our_services/medicare/about_medicare/how_mc_works.shtml
What is an Accredited Practice
Accreditation is a process that practices go through to ensure they are meeting a certain level of standards within their practice.
Accreditation is an ongoing process that ensures these standards are maintained by the practice. A practice can choose not to go through the Accreditation process; it just means that they arent eligible for certain Medicare benefits and that consumers cant be guaranteed that the practice is providing the best quality care it can.
There are two companies in Australia that provide accreditation to General Practice. If a practice has met all the accreditation requirements then they can display the logo to let consumers know.
1)Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited
2) General Practice Accreditation Plus
How to access interpreter services both onsite and by telephone
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) through the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship, is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call. It is available for any person or organization in Australia requiring interpreting assistance. TIS also provide on-site interpreters. Charges may be incurred depending on the service required.
Telephone interpreting Service: 131 450
On-site Interpreting: 1300 655 082
For more information please contact either the numbers above or : www.immi.gov.au
Go to Living in Australia then Help with English.
What is a Practice Nurse
Practice Nurses are registered or enrolled nurses working with GPs.
Practice nurses can take on a variety of jobs within general practice depending on their qualification and how the practice is set up.
Div 1 (registered nurse) Nurses have completed a tertiary qualification in nursing
Div 2 (enrolled nurse) Nurses have undertaken a shorter program of education and are licensed under an Australian State or Territory Nurses Act to provide nursing care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
The role of Practice Nurses may include:
Immunizing children, pap smears, hearing checks, wound care, diabetes health checks, asthma education, lifestyle education, develop care plans in association with the GP and health assessments.
Choosing a GP
This link will take you to the Better Health Channel information sheet on how to choose GP.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Choosing_your_doctor?open
Workforce Shortage and Tips for Appointments
Many parts of Australia are currently experiencing a shortage of GPs.
A district of workforce shortage is one in which the community is considered to have less access to medical services than that experienced by the population in general.
A district of workforce shortage is calculated using a doctor to population ratio.
Due to this shortage the demands on GPs are very high and patients often experience this through difficulty in getting an appointment and long waits in the waiting room once you have an appointment. Many GPs are now so fully booked that they arent taking on any new patients because they just dont have the appointments available.
Tips to help with your appointment
1)If you have lots to discuss with your GP then book in for a longer consultation. A normal consultation is between 10 - 15 minutes. This will help to relieve waiting times.
2)Ask when you arrive if there is a wait.
3)Book the first appointment in the morning or first after lunch.
4)If you have an urgent problem, explain it to the staff as they may be able to fit you in if it is a serious matter.
For more tips to help with medical appointments please click here.
What Can I Do if I Have a Complaint About My GP?
It is strongly recommended that if you have a complaint about your GP or member of staff within a general practice that you firstly contact the practice or people involved and try to resolve the matter with the direct parties. Once you have done this and if you are still unhappy with the outcome you can contact the Health Services Commissioner to make a formal complaint.
Download the information sheet about the complaints process through the Office of the Health Services Commissioner
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc/downloads/infosheet.pdf
Health Services Commissioner
Complaints and Information
Telephone: (03) 8601 5200
Toll Free: 1800 136 066
Fax No.: (03) 8601 5219
or write to:
Health Services Commissioner
30th Floor
570 Bourke Street
Melbourne. 3000
Victoria
Current Immunisation Schedule
The Immunisation Schedule is a list of vaccinations that are recommended to prevent against diseases that are relevant to Australia. The vaccines listed in this schedule are funded by the Government.
The link below will take you to the National Immunisation Schedule:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/nips
Helpful Acronyms
- ACIR
Australian Childhood Immunisation Register - AGPN
Australian General Practice Network - ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - AGPAL
Australia General Practitioner Accreditation Limited - AIH
Australian Institute of Health - AMA
Australian Medical Association - APNA
Australian Practice Nurse Association - CDM
Chronic Disease Management - CPD / QA
Continued Professional Development / Quality Assurance - DCGPA
Dandenong Casey General Practice Association - DoHA
Department of Health and Ageing (Commonwealth) - DVA
Department Veteran Affairs - EPC
Enhanced Primary Care - ERMHA
Eastern Region Mental Health Association - GP
General Practitioner - GPA
General Practice Accreditation - GPV
General Practice Victoria - GPII
General Practice Immunisation Incentive - HARP
Hospital Admission Risk Program - HIC
Health Insurance Commission - HMR
Home Medicine Review - HR
Human Resources - IM/IT
Information Management / Information Technology - MBS
Medical Benefit Scheme (e.g.; MBS item number) - NPS
National Prescribing Service - OTD
Overseas Trained Doctor - PIP
Practice Incentive Program - QUM
Quality Use of Medicines - RACGP
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - RDAA
Rural Doctors Association Australia - WHO
World Health Organisation