Footing the bill: the introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates for podiatry services in Australia.
The introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule items for allied health professionals in 2004 was a pivotal event in the public funding of non-medical primary care services. This commentary seeks to provide supplementary discussion of the article by Menz (Utilisation of podiatry services in Australia under the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care program, 2004-2008 Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2009, 2:30), by placing these findings within the context of the podiatry profession, clinical decision making and the broader health workforce and government policy.
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Anthony J
AJ
School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. anthony@podiatrypractice.com.au.