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Hospital Circular 17 /2005

Date Issued: 4 August 2005

Distribution: Chief Executive Officers; Chief Finance Officers; Medical Directors; HR Directors

Enquiries: Rural & Regional Health Branch Tel (03) 9616 2658

Subject: Review of Contractual and Fee Arrangements for Contracted Visiting Medical Officers

Recently, the Department has been approached both by the Victorian Healthcare Association generally on behalf of its members, and by individual rural health services, seeking advice and assistance with regard to the negotiation of contracts with fee-for-service Visiting Medical Officers. In response, the Department has decided to initiate a project to review existing arrangements.

The Department has engaged Phillips Fox Lawyers in conjunction with RSM Bird Cameron to undertake the Project. The Project will commence in late July 2005 for completion by the end of October 2005. The Project will be led by Dr Heather Wellington of Phillips Fox.

VMO arrangements in a selection of health services of varying size in regional and rural Victoria will be reviewed. Health services that will be asked to submit data and other information to the Project will be separately notified.

The objectives of the Project are to:

• Identify existing arrangements operating in Victorian health services/hospitals;
• Identify arrangements operating in other Australian states and territories;
• Compare Victorian arrangements with those in other states and territories; and
• Report on the above.

If you require any further information regarding this Project please contact Mr John Burch, Manager, Operations, Rural & Regional Health & Aged Care Services on Tel (03) 9616 2658 or by email to john.burch@dhs.vic.gov.au .

LANCE WALLACE
Executive Director
Financial and Corporate Services