Post by santaclaus on Jun 14, 2014 8:24:15 GMT 7
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australian-doctors-back-the-review-of-270000-dsp-claims/story-fni0cx12-1226929247100
AUSTRALIA'S medical fraternity has thrown its support behind the federal government's plan to independently assess more than 270,000 people in the state receiving a disability support pension.
The Australian Medical Association said yesterday the new arrangement would "ensure the optimal application of the system for all concerned".
NSW president Dr Saxon Smith said doctors would assess a patient and provide a report to an independent assessor to make a final judgment on whether someone was truly entitled to the DSP.
The Daily Telegraph reported this week more than 270,000 NSW residents already receive the DSP, available to people with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric "impairment" who are unable to work for more than 15 hours a week.
Dr Smith said the introduction of an independent assessor "means that the doctor is not making the decision about eligibility and preserves the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship".
"Independent assessment will enable the doctor to be focused on the health and wellbeing of the patient," he said.
"The independent assessor will focus on eligibility issues. This will hopefully ensure the optimal application of the system for all concerned."
He remained confident GPs would be able to handle the extra process, despite their already high workloads.
"We do not believe that this will specifically increase workload as these are assessments already being performed," he said.
However, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners vice-president Dr Frank Jones said further detail was needed.
"There is an intent of getting them back to work, which I understand and absolutely support because there is very good evidence that returning people to work not only improves their self-esteem but their physical health as well," he said.
"But it is unclear to us at the college who these independent doctors are, what qualifications they will have, what their criteria will be, et cetera."
Dr Jones said a DSP assessment was "routine" work for most GPs. "They are perfectly qualified to do it," he said.
"If there is going to be more workload (due to the additional assessments), then obviously we would have to look at it very closely."
Almost one-third of DSP claims in Australia now relate to psychological and psychiatric conditions, up from 22.6 per cent in 2001.
NSW is home to almost one-third of DSP recipients nationwide, with the state's north featuring a particularly high proportion.
More than 10 per cent of eligible voters in Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast have been deemed eligible for payments, which range up to $766 a fortnight.
AUSTRALIA'S medical fraternity has thrown its support behind the federal government's plan to independently assess more than 270,000 people in the state receiving a disability support pension.
The Australian Medical Association said yesterday the new arrangement would "ensure the optimal application of the system for all concerned".
NSW president Dr Saxon Smith said doctors would assess a patient and provide a report to an independent assessor to make a final judgment on whether someone was truly entitled to the DSP.
The Daily Telegraph reported this week more than 270,000 NSW residents already receive the DSP, available to people with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric "impairment" who are unable to work for more than 15 hours a week.
Dr Smith said the introduction of an independent assessor "means that the doctor is not making the decision about eligibility and preserves the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship".
"Independent assessment will enable the doctor to be focused on the health and wellbeing of the patient," he said.
"The independent assessor will focus on eligibility issues. This will hopefully ensure the optimal application of the system for all concerned."
He remained confident GPs would be able to handle the extra process, despite their already high workloads.
"We do not believe that this will specifically increase workload as these are assessments already being performed," he said.
However, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners vice-president Dr Frank Jones said further detail was needed.
"There is an intent of getting them back to work, which I understand and absolutely support because there is very good evidence that returning people to work not only improves their self-esteem but their physical health as well," he said.
"But it is unclear to us at the college who these independent doctors are, what qualifications they will have, what their criteria will be, et cetera."
Dr Jones said a DSP assessment was "routine" work for most GPs. "They are perfectly qualified to do it," he said.
"If there is going to be more workload (due to the additional assessments), then obviously we would have to look at it very closely."
Almost one-third of DSP claims in Australia now relate to psychological and psychiatric conditions, up from 22.6 per cent in 2001.
NSW is home to almost one-third of DSP recipients nationwide, with the state's north featuring a particularly high proportion.
More than 10 per cent of eligible voters in Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast have been deemed eligible for payments, which range up to $766 a fortnight.
