Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including:

• Burglaries targeting Melbourne medical practices
• Review of Victoria’s energy life support customer framework.

Burglaries targeting Melbourne medical practices

Victoria Police has contacted AMA Victoria regarding a recent series of burglaries targeting medical practices across Melbourne, where offenders have stolen EFTPOS, HICAPS and Tyro terminals and processed fraudulent refunds, with some practices reporting significant losses.

AMA Victoria has discussed the issue with Victoria Police, who have provided an advisory note for practices outlining a series of straightforward precautions to help reduce risk. These include ensuring alarms and CCTV systems are operating, securing payment terminals when premises are unattended, changing default PINs, avoiding the storage of access details near devices, and maintaining a record of terminal serial numbers.

Victoria Police has encouraged practices to review their current arrangements and confirm that their security processes are up to date.

Members can read Victoria Police’s advisory for medical practices here.

Review of Victoria’s energy life support customer framework

The Essential Services Commission (ESC), Victoria’s energy regulator, is reviewing the rules that protect customers who rely on electricity- or gas-powered life support equipment at home. The review follows major outages that exposed problems with the accuracy of life support registers and with identifying customers most in need during prolonged interruptions.

Under current arrangements, retailers and distributors must keep a register of life support customers. Medical practitioners confirm the health condition that justifies registration. Registered patients are protected from disconnection for non-payment and are entitled to notice of planned interruptions.

The ESC is considering changes that affect how doctors complete confirmations. These include a single standard medical confirmation form, clearer definitions of critical and assistive needs determined by a medical practitioner, and renewal of medical confirmation every four years, with an exemption option for permanent conditions. The form would be mandatory across all retailers and distributors.

The ESC has asked for AMA Victoria’s views. We invite feedback from GPs and relevant specialists who complete life support confirmations- including on the proposed form, the critical/assistive distinction, the four-year renewal cycle, and any practical challenges practitioners or patients experience with the current medical confirmation process, or on any other aspect of the review they consider important.

Members can view the Consultation Paper: Better Protections for Life Support Customers in Victoria here, and the Draft Medical Confirmation Form for Life Support Equipment here.

Feedback can be provided to Lewis Horton at [email protected].