Geelong's compo claim shame

Alex Oates June 8th, 2010

GEELONG'S Transport Accident Commission and Workcover claimants are being turned away for medical treatment, a leading law firm claims.

Slater and Gordon lawyers have called on the TAC and Workcover to work with the Australian Medical Association to reduce the number of injured Geelong residents being denied treatment.

Slater and Gordon injury specialist lawyer Janine Gregory said the system needed to be improved for the benefit of people injured at work or in a car accident.

"We act for hundreds of people making claims each year, but unfortunately it's a common occurrence for us to hear from our clients that they have been turned away for treatment or a medical assessment purely because they are a TAC or WorkCover claimants," Ms Gregory said.

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"One of the common reasons provided is that the doctor does not want to take on the patient because of the high level of paperwork that is involved with these types of claims.

"If the obligations being placed on the doctor are too onerous then a resolution needs to be found."

The TAC believes clients have access to medical support. "In the last 12 months, the TAC has paid around 1450 surgeons more than $16m for more than 39,000 consultations and operations. This is fairly consistent over the past four years," a spokesperson said.

"It appears a small number of surgeons are frustrated by the increased scrutiny of invoices following the two Ombudsman's reports into billing processes.

"The TAC has a responsibility to the Victorian taxpayer to ensure payments are made in accordance with the legislation."

The GP Association of Geelong yesterday said it supported any attempt to reduce the increasing levels of paper work that take GPs away from seeing their patients. "As a Geelong-based organisation who has a healthy relationship with the TAC, we would be pleased to see local GPs provide input if a review was to occur," General Practitioners Association of Geelong chief executive Jason Trethowan said.