The results of this survey have been published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery.
Premium Support Scheme
The PSS is an Australian Government scheme that helps eligible medical practitioners with the costs of their medical indemnity insurance. Eligible medical practitioners continue to see the benefit of the PSS through reductions in the level of premiums charged to them by their medical indemnity insurers. The Australian Government makes payments to medical indemnity insurers for the PSS.
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-medicalindemnity-faq-pss.htm
Runoff Cover Indemnity Scheme
The ROCS is a scheme designed to provide secure insurance for doctors who have left private practice. The Government’s original package of medical indemnity legislation in 2002 addressed the affordability of medical indemnity for doctors and the industry’s long-term viability, in a period of upheaval. However, those who had left the medical workforce – including retirees, and those on maternity leave – often faced significant ongoing costs for “run-off cover” for incidents which had occurred during their careers but had not yet been notified to insurers. ROCS ensures that eligible doctors get medical indemnity cover that is secure and free and based on their last cover.
Independent Bariatric Medicolegal Advisory Panel (iMAP)
Actively practising bariatric surgeons with medicolegal experience are needed to provide balanced expert opinions for both defence and plaintiff cases. With rising indemnity costs, defensible cases should be strongly supported, while recognising that some cases are better settled early to minimise legal expenses and reduce stress on the surgeons involved. Broadening the pool of plaintiff experts to include current bariatric practitioners is also important.
