Volume 181 - Issue 6
“Doctor shoppers”: at risk by any other name
Author: Jeff Whalan
Med J Aust 2004; 181 (6): 342-343. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06313.x
Published online: 16 August 2004
Published online: 16 August 2004
Jeff Whalan
Managing Director, Health Insurance Commission, PO Box 1001, Tuggeranong, ACT 2901 medicare.enqAThic.gov.au
In reply: I note the concerns expressed by Hart in relation to the discontinuation of the Doctor Shopping Hotline, and his call for the reinstatement of such a service.
The Doctor Shopping Project, which was funded to the end of June 2002, focused on a limited selection of nervous system medications. It has been replaced by the Prescription Shopping Project, which is much broader in scope, as it encompasses all medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The new project aims to reduce the number of patients obtaining PBS medicines in excess of therapeutic need, and provides the opportunity for more informed prescribing across all categories of PBS medicine.
The Health Insurance Commission (HIC) recognises the value of an information service for medical practitioners under the Prescription Shopping Project. An independent researcher has been engaged to explore the reactions and attitudes of medical practitioners and consumers to implementing such an information service. The research also aims to gain insight into medical practitioners’ intentions of using such a service, and their expectations of the scope and delivery of the service. Findings were presented to the HIC in early July 2004. The HIC will now convene a forum of relevant peak bodies to consider the scope and delivery of an information service in light of the findings.
The HIC looks forward to working with the profession to establish an information service for medical practitioners under the Prescription Shopping Project.