Level 2 6-15 mins $ 45.00

Level 3 16-25 mins $ 78.25

Level 4 26-35 mins $ 111.75

Level 5 36-45 mins $ 149.00

Level 6 46-59 mins $ 186.30

Dr Nicholas Stanley-Cary GP in Perth, WA.

The rationale? Better support for complex care, given the current items may not reflect the complexities of modern general practice, such as managing chronic disease and mental illness.

The AMA is basically ascribing an equal dollar value to every minute

PICTURE CREDIT

Level 7 60 mins and over $ 260.80

These proposed rebates were drawn up prior to the 2025 Medicare indexation.

because society frowned upon those so afflicted. It was always there; we just had to dig a little below the surface to expose it, and it was all the more dangerous for being hidden. The longer we knew our patients, the easier it was to spot the change in their mood.

Equal dollar value per minute is the definition of a salary.

In this case, without the added

of an hour( see table) when it comes

benefits. Do we want a salary or do

to consults beyond 10 minutes.

we want to cherish our fee-for-ser-

This single change completely

vice system? There are plenty of

removes the experience of the doctor

government salaried positions avail-

from the equation.

able in my state if salary is your

With the MBS Review Advisory

preference.

Committee expected to reveal a

needed to sort out their issues.

experience looks like, and that it

local ED? The pharmacist? The

The solution? We already have

draft of new time tiers this year, the

With an experienced doctor, the

is hard-earned by years of doing

naturopath?

the GP chronic condition manage-

AMA could get its wish— leaving GPs

patient receives an excellent out-

the job.

We are supposed to be trying

ment plans with their three-monthly

at risk of being penalised for their

come in a shorter time because the

Should this really count for

to meet the needs of our commu-

reviews. We already have GP mental

experience and efficiency.

doctor knows exactly what to do to

nothing?

nities. We have already cut back

health treatment plans.

An inexperienced GP will be on

untangle the knot of undifferenti-

How demeaning. How demoti-

severely on our after-hours availa-

We could ask for a new item num-

broadly the same minute / hourly rate

ated problems.

vating not to improve our skill base.

bility due to concerns about work-

ber, 07, with a rebate of $ 159 for a

as a highly experienced colleague.

life balance.

minimum 20-minute consultation to

The second major consequence is that it demotivates the GP from working to try to match the health needs of their community.

Personally, I would love to slack

Why bother seeing 30 patients a day when you will receive the same pay as seeing less than 10?

Are we now going to encourage GPs to slack off totally?

These changes have been proposed to better reward those dealing with the“ complex realities of mod-

deal with at least three problems.

This would be partly descriptive and partly time-based, and only claimable three times per year for each patient. A minimum of 20

off and see just 1-2 patients an hour

ern general practice”.

minutes.

and chat about my latest holiday

Therefore, any relationship of

This brings me to the sec-

What utter nonsense.

This should not break the health

adventures for the same reward as

quality of care to time is inversely

ond major consequence of this

We have always dealt with these

budget, and it maintains reward

seeing four patients in the same time.

proportional. So why are we consid-

proposal.

issues— in the past, with far more

for experience and prevents demo-

If we look at quality of care from

ering rewarding time alone?

Honestly, why bother seeing

pathology and far less diagnos-

tivating an entire professional

the patient’ s perspective, I sug-

It completely ignores all those

20-30 patients a day when you will

tic toys to help us. Think smoking

workforce.

gest that this is 100 % dependent on

years of gathered experience, the hon-

receive the same pay as seeing less

rates, stroke rates and so on. No

All I am saying is, be very careful

the experience of the GP they are

ing of the coping mechanisms, the

than 10?

CT scanners on every corner, no

what you ask for when it comes to

consulting.

repetitive problem-solving, the knowl-

A great improvement for the

echocardiograms to help diagnose

time-based items.

Nothing to do with time.

edge of the invaluable local resources

quality of life for the GP, but what

heart failure.

I want to believe that all good GPs give every patient the time

that are available close at hand. I think we all know what

about all those unseen patients? Where do they go for help? The

I concede there were fewer mental health presentations, but only

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