Medical dominance is a concept within the Australian health care system which majorly impacts general practitioners (GPs), through giving them power over the associated economics and business of health services. This is specifically exemplified in their role within the health care system, wherein they act as the primary care service providers in Australia. Due to their position, GPs attain significant control over the client bases of other health professionals. Consequently, disadvantages such as the production of poor professional relationships arise, due to the imbalance of power and voice in multidisciplinary teams, resulting in inefficient functioning of the Australian health care system. Despite this, medical dominance results in individual
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Hence, it largely impacts multidisciplinary teams in the way they function, and the effectiveness of this. A major example of medical dominance seen in the Australian health care system is through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), wherein GPs provide the first form of communication between a client and a health care professional. Their job is to aid clients in resolving their health issues, whether that be through direct care, or working in a multidisciplinary team, providing referrals to allied health professionals and specialists who can aid in preventative care or chronic …show more content…
This role can be argued as financially beneficial to GPs, as being the initial point of contact between clients and health professionals, they receive a majority of payments if direct treatment is provided, and are given the flexibility to charge fees above the MBS fee if desired. The MBS is a system wherein medical practitioners, including GPs, receive 85% of the scheduled fee set by the Commonwealth from Medicare. When GPs only charge clients the schedule fee, it is known as bulk-billing. This is most desirable for clients, however, GPs are given the option to set a price above the schedule fee, creating a pay gap, in which the client is solely responsible. Advantages such as these are often not overlooked by GPs, as a 2014 study shows, on average, a $6 pay gap existed for MBS service item 23, one of the most common services GPs provide. Moreover, it was reported that the mean bulk-billing rate by GPs was 71%, a result that shows economical benefits to clients, but also implies that some GPs will use their power to increase income (Johar et. al, 2014). The financial benefits attained from medical dominance by GPs can be further exemplified through a study by Cheng et. al (2011), which stated that the cost of medical services was composed predominantly of payments to GPs through
Hence, it largely impacts multidisciplinary teams in the way they function, and the effectiveness of this. A major example of medical dominance seen in the Australian health care system is through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), wherein GPs provide the first form of communication between a client and a health care professional. Their job is to aid clients in resolving their health issues, whether that be through direct care, or working in a multidisciplinary team, providing referrals to allied health professionals and specialists who can aid in preventative care or chronic …show more content…
This role can be argued as financially beneficial to GPs, as being the initial point of contact between clients and health professionals, they receive a majority of payments if direct treatment is provided, and are given the flexibility to charge fees above the MBS fee if desired. The MBS is a system wherein medical practitioners, including GPs, receive 85% of the scheduled fee set by the Commonwealth from Medicare. When GPs only charge clients the schedule fee, it is known as bulk-billing. This is most desirable for clients, however, GPs are given the option to set a price above the schedule fee, creating a pay gap, in which the client is solely responsible. Advantages such as these are often not overlooked by GPs, as a 2014 study shows, on average, a $6 pay gap existed for MBS service item 23, one of the most common services GPs provide. Moreover, it was reported that the mean bulk-billing rate by GPs was 71%, a result that shows economical benefits to clients, but also implies that some GPs will use their power to increase income (Johar et. al, 2014). The financial benefits attained from medical dominance by GPs can be further exemplified through a study by Cheng et. al (2011), which stated that the cost of medical services was composed predominantly of payments to GPs through