The vocational register was introduced in 1989 by the Australian Commonwealth Government with the intention of improving the standard of general practice through recognising it as a speciality. From 1989 to 1995 doctors already working in general practices could to apply to be “grandfathered” on to the Vocational Register if they also met the eligibility criteria.
After 1996, doctors with a provider number were eligible to become vocationally registered if they undertook a training program administered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and passed an exam. Alternatively GPs could become vocationally registered if they worked for five years in general practice, applied for membership with the RACGP and then sat the college exam.
Since that time, general practice has experienced many changes in training requirements. Currently non-VR GPs may become vocationally registered by applying for a certification of eligibility to the General Practice Recognition Eligibility Committee or by undertaking a pathway to Fellowship with either the RACGP or the College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
Non-VR GPs do the same work as VR GPs and provide the same standard of care. Both VR GPs and non-VR GPs are required to have the same professional indemnity insurance cover and both are recognised by the Medical Board of Australia. The main difference between a VR GP and a non-VR GP is that non-VR GPs are not eligible for the same level of Medicare rebates and consequently patients of non-VR GPs may have higher out-of-pocket expenses for GP visits.
Access to rebates
Under the indexation schedule for Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates, VR GPs are eligible to claim A1 rebates for GP standard attendances. Medical practitioners who do not hold continued recognition by either RACGP, ACRRM, or by any other recognised specialist medical college, generally cannot access the higher A1 Medicare rebate. Non-VR GPs are instead eligible to access the A2 rebates in the Medical Benefits Schedule. A2 rebates were originally set at 93 percent of the A1 rebate but have not attracted annual indexation so are now proportionally lower than A1 rebates.
Non-VR GPs may be eligible to access the A1 rebate if they work in a rural or remote area, or after hours. There are additional programs available which may allow non-VR GPs to access the A1 rebate including programs which require non-VR GPs to work in areas of workforce shortages. After five years of participating in such a program, non-VR GPs are then eligible to continue claiming the A1 rebate regardless of where they practice.
HealthStaff Recruitment currently has positions available for both VR and non-VR GPs. Check out our GP jobs board today.