AMA Seeks Medicare Rebates For Practice Nurses
Type: Union News Subject: Medicare
28 February 2009
The AMA has asked the Federal Government to expand the list of tasks practice nurses can perform under Medicare.
In its pre-budget submission last month, just prior to the release of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report, the doctors’ peak lobby group asked the Government to allocate $50 million a year for Medicare rebates to cover practice nurses who manage patients’ chronic health problems on a doctor’s behalf.
The submission also recommended that nurses providing screening services be covered by the scheme and that eligibility for lump-sum grants be widened to encourage GP practices to employ more nurses.
ANF National Secretary Ged Kearney said the Federation supported anything that maximised nurses’ potential but stressed the AMA’s proposal fell short of that potential. She also suggested the Government introduce a block grant system for GP practices to employ nurses rather than Medicare-based funding.
The AMA’s submission states that while 65% of GP surgeries employ a nurse, the rural and outer-metropolitan subsidy grants are too small to cover nurse’s wages, and that increasing the number of nurses would ‘deliver greater benefits to patients’.
Join the NSW Nurses' Association
If you're a nurse in NSW, then this is your union.
Nurses must have a strong, active & relevant union to ensure ongoing improvements in their working lives.
Features and Updates
2010 NSWNA Recruitment Incentive Scheme
Get a $20 gift card for every new member you sign up.
more »
National Registration Info Package
Essential information for Nurses and Midwives on National Registration to download more »
HNEAHS 'Balanced Rosters' Study
Download the Hunter New England Area Health Service 'Balancing The Needs' final report here, plus all you need to know about the study. more »
Union Shopper - NSW directory of services, 2010
An online real view brochure of what Union Shopper has on offer in 2010. more »
NSWNA Notice Boards
Has your workplace got one? more »
Reasonable Workloads Guide
Find out more more »
