We thank Ploumidis for his comments on our recent article.1 We agree that restructuring general practitioner payments would be helpful for improving outcomes for people with chronic diseases. For example, payment for the development of care plans is not particularly helpful unless the recommended activities and referrals are actually undertaken. For this reason, the annual cycle of care is a better indicator of improved patient outcome than a completed care plan.
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- 1. Esterman AJ, Fountaine T, McDermott R. Are general practice characteristics predictors of good glycaemic control in patients with diabetes? A cross-sectional study. Med J Aust 2016; 204: 23. <MJA full text>
- 2. Department of Health. Health Care Homes to keep chronically-ill out-of-hospital. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2016. https://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2016-ley024.htm (accessed May 2016).
- 3. Esterman AJ, Ben-Tovim DI. The Australian coordinated care trials: success or failure? Med J Aust 2002; 177: 469-470.
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