The WA government and the AMA are in discussions regarding the AMA's enterprise bargaining agreement, focusing on financial implications and proposed reforms. Concerns exist around revenue raising and potential Medicare funding clawbacks.

AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Assembly
Asked
8 August 2001
Member
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, ENTERPRISE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
What is the current situation with the Australian Medical Association’s enterprise bargaining agreement? Mr KUCERA

AnswerView source ↗

The AMA and the Department of Health have been discussing the financial implications of the AMA’s proposed agreement and the associated reforms across the health system. I was pleased to receive the AMA’s suggestions about how its proposed agreement can be funded, but I have now requested the Department of Health to enter into detailed discussions with the AMA to fully develop its suggestions, and, if they agree to the proposed reforms, that it put them into operation. I hope that will be a significant step towards finalising the EBA. There are concerns about some of the issues raised. One of those issues is revenue raising. As I said yesterday in this House, I am concerned that the federal Minister for Health has flagged that we are now in danger of losing some of our moneys under the Medicare Agreement because of the clawback; therefore, these proposals need to be put into operation. I am pleased that the AMA has put forward some very good and concrete proposals, and it is now a matter of discussion between the Commissioner of Health, the health negotiators and the AMA to determine whether the proposals can be put into operation for the EBA.
Mr KUCERA replied: The AMA and the Department of Health have been discussing the financial implications of the AMA’s proposed agreement and the associated reforms across the health system. I was pleased to receive the AMA’s suggestions about how its proposed agreement can be funded, but I have now requested the Department of Health to enter into detailed discussions with the AMA to fully develop its suggestions, and, if they agree to the proposed reforms, that it put them into operation. I hope that will be a significant step towards finalising the EBA. There are concerns about some of the issues raised. One of those issues is revenue raising. As I said yesterday in this House, I am concerned that the federal Minister for Health has flagged that we are now in danger of losing some of our moneys under the Medicare Agreement because of the clawback; therefore, these proposals need to be put into operation. I am pleased that the AMA has put forward some very good and concrete proposals, and it is now a matter of discussion between the Commissioner of Health, the health negotiators and the AMA to determine whether the proposals can be put into operation for the EBA.
The AMA and the Department of Health have been discussing the financial implications of the AMA’s proposed agreement and the associated reforms across the health system. I was pleased to receive the AMA’s suggestions about how its proposed agreement can be funded, but I have now requested the Department of Health to enter into detailed discussions with the AMA to fully develop its suggestions, and, if they agree to the proposed reforms, that it put them into operation. I hope that will be a significant step towards finalising the EBA. There are concerns about some of the issues raised. One of those issues is revenue raising. As I said yesterday in this House, I am concerned that the federal Minister for Health has flagged that we are now in danger of losing some of our moneys under the Medicare Agreement because of the clawback; therefore, these proposals need to be put into operation. I am pleased that the AMA has put forward some very good and concrete proposals, and it is now a matter of discussion between the Commissioner of Health, the health negotiators and the AMA to determine whether the proposals can be put into operation for the EBA.

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