Some Medicare Locals still don’t get it. Australian Doctor Magazine reported last week in an article titled Medicare Local threatens AMA that yet another Medicare Local is trying to add ‘search and seize’ clauses to after hours service contracts with GPs. These clauses give Medicare Locals the power to attend the practice and conduct an audit…

Meanwhile our own Medicare Local has issued another hefty document: a 22 page long Request for Tender for after hours care. As mentioned before our practice has been providing after hours care for many years, yet we now have to go through an onerous tender process to receive funding for this community service.

In the latest AMA GP Network News, AMA GP chair Dr Brian Morton wrote:

This Request for Tender (RFT) is a stunning example of how well intentioned policy has been completely bureaucratised. Practices have gone from a relatively simple application form…