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Dear ,

The General Practice Group met on 9 July 2025 to discuss key issues affecting general practice, with a strong focus on chronic disease management, aged care, workforce support, and representation for international medical graduates (IMGs).

• Chair's Report
  The recent GP survey attracted 63 responses, providing insights into contractor arrangements, mixed billing, and Medicare reforms pressures. Updates were shared on immunisation efforts, with the flu program extended due to low uptake. From Federal Council of GPs meeting, progress continues on longer consults and tiered MBS items, and importantly, a WA-led ADHD proposal is being considered for national rollout.

• Chronic Disease Management
  Concerns were raised about the limited rebate for new care plans and the need to reduce paperwork while improving financial viability through more frequent patient reviews. The group discussed balancing opportunity costs with better use of practice nurses and workflow redesign, noting obesity management qualifies under clinician judgment.

• My Medicare and Aged Care
  Registration challenges persist for practices working across multiple sites and for rotating GPs in aged care. The system’s inflexibility creates administrative burdens, while changes have reduced incentives for practices employing nurses under CDM. Issues with GPACI registration and complications when enrolling patients and practices asynchronously were also raised.

• Federal Policy Briefings – Aged Care and Nurse Incentives
  The group critiqued draft policy settings as discouraging GP involvement in aged care, citing flat incentive limits, punitive targets, and misguided links to facility activities. Concerns were also raised about growing prevalence of nurse practitioners in residential aged care, fee double-dipping, and commercial exploitation.

• Practice Nurse and Allied Health Models
  Members agreed the nurse item paper needs strengthening, calling for clearer advocacy for GP-led practice nurses, and to reference the Practice Incentives Program review to support removal of per-practice funding caps, and exploration of blended payment models. Greater allied health flexibility was also recommended, particularly for rural/demographic customisation, with expanded roles for social workers and pharmacists.

• Transgender Patient Resources
  Updated guidance is now available for confirming gender change in WA.

• IMG Representation
  The underrepresentation of IMGs in AMA forums was raised, particularly GPs without hospital backing. Members supported preparing a proposal to strengthen IMG and ethnic minority representation within the AMA (WA) and federally, recognising this as both an equity issue and a chance to grow membership.

The AMA (WA) is dedicated to advocating for GPs, ensuring their critical role is recognised, supported, and enhanced within WA's healthcare system. For further information on industrial and employment issues, employment contracts, dealing with complaints, ethical issues, Medicare audits and other support services, contact the AMA (WA) Industrial Relations Team by submitting an online query, emailing industrial@amawa.com.au or calling (08) 9273 3000.

Regards,

Dr Mary Wyatt (Chair) & Dr Andrew Png (Vice Chair)
AMA (WA) General Practice Group