GPs call for ‘direct funding’ for larger clinics during vaccine rollout

General practitioner Dr Nathan Pinskier says larger clinics would prefer a “direct funding” model during the vaccine rollout since the Medicare model is “not appropriate” for larger practices in the current climate. “The Medicare model for larger practices is not appropriate in the same way that it might work for a small practice of 50 with one or two GP owners," he said. “The Medicare funding model is a fee for service model which means if people don’t turn up, we don’t receive funding. “We would prefer a direct funding model in the same way that a hospital gets direct funded … so that we can work out how to deliver the vaccine more efficiently”. Dr Pinskier says the vaccine rollout through GPs is a very inefficient because some larger practices are only receiving 50 doses a week. “We were under the assumption that our larger practices would receive 400 - as did most of my colleagues in the sector - but to only get 50 means you can actually do that in an afternoon."