More than 60 leaders from across all medical specialties met in Canberra yesterday to discuss the medical profession’s participation in the Governments’ Medicare Benefits Schedule reviews.

Addressing the audience AMA President Brian Owler once again stressed the need to make sure the review remained a clinician-led process that is based on evidence and held in conjunction with the colleges and specialist societies where the knowledge base and expertise lies.

“The AMA will continue to work with the Government in the review, and we will work with the specialists and colleges in making sure that we get the best outcome from the review – provided this is not just about cutting costs and provided that we maintain access to health care for our patients,” he said.

ARA President Mona Marabani who attended the meeting said it was a very general discussion about what the actual review will entail.

It will involve a full review of the existing schedule where individual expert groups will assess items for best practice.

“They’re looking for a “best health service experience for patients” — all laudable objectives,” she told the limbic.

“But the bottom line is that this review doesn’t have the power, nor is it going to look at introducing any new items…it is only going to look at current items and see what’s appropriate and what’s not,” she said.

The AMA says it will set up a doctor-only information portal to enable stakeholders to stay on top of the information coming out of the review which is expected to take up to two years.