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Impact of the introduction of fee for service payments on types of minor surgical procedures undertaken by general practitioners: observational study

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 14:49 authored by Peter Pockney, John Primrose, Helen Kinley, Steve George, Val Lattimer, Helen Smith, Paul Little, Adam Lowy, Roger Kneebone
The 1990 general practitioners (GPs) contract introduced item of service payment for minor surgery, payable for six categories of procedure. Early review showed no substitution of cheaper procedures for more expensive treatments. Detailed payment data from six Health Authorities for the period 1993–2000 show an 11 per cent increase in claims, largely accounted for by the rise in cautery, incorporating cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is no more effective at treating warts than cheap commercially available products, but is quite profitable for GPs. This is yet another example of item of service payment distorting treatment priorities. The new GP contract, and the initiative to develop GPs with special interests in dermatology and minor surgery, will allow primary care trusts to develop minor surgery undertaken by appropriately skilled and experienced GPs, and which reflects the needs of the population.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Public Health

ISSN

1741-3842

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

3

Volume

26

Page range

264-267

Department affiliated with

  • Primary Care and Public Health Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • No

Legacy Posted Date

2008-10-06

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-07-02

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