FEATURE: FUNDING FOR EXERCISE-BASED THERAPIES HOW CAN AUSTRALIA’S MEDICARE SYSTEM BE REFORMED SO THAT EXERCISE-BASED THERAPIES ARE PROPERLY FUNDED? specialist” because I’ve chosen SEM as (who turned out to be the successful that exercise is an effective treatment – my specialty. It can be noted that facing candidate) sent me a Twitter message and prevention – for a vast number of (unfair) barriers in your medical training saying he would support SEM getting chronic diseases. But it is lobbying that for being, say, female, doesn’t necessarily equitable rebates under the MBS is now required for exercise-based stop you from erecting equally unfair for Chronic Disease Management. practitioners to get fair funding under barriers regarding other doctors for other I messaged him back and promised that the MBS, and we must all stick together reasons. And although this article seems after an 18-year absence, that if he won and work with GPs to get it over the line. like a rant against rheumatologists and the Presidency, I would rejoin the AMA, The main reason for this is to allow surgeons, I certainly appreciate that they and I did. I’m hoping he’ll get the chance Australians from all socioeconomic do great work with many conditions. to turn his personal support into actual backgrounds – not just the rich – However, they have their flaws, like all AMA support of the specialty of SEM, be able to access evidence-based specialists, with one of them being not finally over-ruling the “SEM is not exercise-based treatment. enough appreciation of practitioners who a real specialty” crew, and that I’ll feel are primarily exercise-based, rather than comfortable staying on as an AMA being drug or surgery-based. Member once his Presidential term ends. However, from the depths in 2018 So how is it that a GP can see the value Editor’s Note: The views expressed of an AMA Vice Presidential candidate in an exercise-based medical specialty in this editorial piece do not declaring sports medicine as “not when so many of his medical specialist necessarily reflect those of SMA a specialty”, an amazing thing happened. colleagues haven’t been able to? In or SMA’s National Board. Sport One of the AMA Presidential candidates retrospect, it’s obvious. GPs are at the Health’s editorial team upholds centre of the health system and can SMA members’ rights to express and do refer to everyone. The good GPs themselves in a respectful manner. have now had enough contact with SEM If you have an editorial you would physicians, physios and EPs to know that like to share in the next issue of they all provide a good service, that it’s Sport Health, please contact exercise-based, and they keep reading sport.health@sma.org.au that for knee OA, back pain and tendon problems, that the evidence is moving away from drugs and surgery and towards exercise-based treatment. However, good GPs also know that the patients of SEM Physicians are having to pay a lot out ABOUT THE AUTHOR of pocket, and it’s not because of Dr John Orchard is overcharging, it’s because of under- a Sport and Exercise rebating. The same good GPs no doubt Physician with over 25 think the same about physiotherapy and years’ experience. He has been exercise physiology. They also probably published in over 300 scientific steer patients away from anti-vaccination publications. John has been chiropractors, but they probably involved with many elite sports know one or two good chiropractors teams including the Sydney Swans, or osteopaths, who are likely to be Sydney Roosters, Australian Cricket exercise-based and members of COCA. Team and the Australian NSW State of Origin Team. He is currently Underpinning the need to get proper the Chief Medical Officer for MBS rebates for exercise-based Cricket Australia. practitioners is the important science 40 VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 2 2018 zciweisalaiBanyzrataK/segamiytteg