Case descriptions
Decision to take no further action
Dr AA
General practitioner
Victoria
Medicare Australia was concerned that Dr AA may have been practicing inappropriately because of his high levels of prescribing, rendered services and daily services.
Medicare Australia’s statistics showed that Dr AA was in the 99th percentile for rendered services, and in the 94th percentile for prescribing.
Based on the material Medicare Australia provided, the Director decided to review Dr AA’s provision of MBS item 23, 36, 7211 and 501242 services, and Dr AA’s prescribing of diazepam, olanzapine and tramadol during the review period.
Upon reviewing Dr AA’s records, the Director considered that his rendering of MBS items 23, 36, 721, 50124 and his prescribing of olanzapine were not inappropriate. The medical records were well documented and detailed. Dr AA’s care plans were not inappropriate in the records examined. The Director initially had some concerns about Dr AA’s prescribing of tramadol and diazepam, as there was little evidence in the medical records of management planning or consideration of drug interactions.
Dr AA provided an extensive written submission to the Director addressing the specific concerns. The Director also met with Dr AA as part of his review. Dr AA advised that he had a special interest in treating substance abuse patients, with over half of his patient base being drug and alcohol related. The Drugs and Poisons Unit of the Victorian Department of Health strongly supports Dr AA in this area of practice. Dr AA’s strong involvement with the local community has extended to having helped set up the mobile integrated health service in the area.
It was the Director’s opinion that Dr AA was a caring and competent doctor dealing with a demanding patient base. No further action was taken under section 91 of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
- 1 MBS item 721 is a GP Management Plan
- 2 MBS item 50124 is an intra-articular injection