Table 3 Assumptions, unit costs and benefits and data source for the GP Teacher model

Efficiencies in teaching

25% efficiencies due to economies of scale by having a GP Teacher

GP teacher does all teaching and supervision

Increased service provision by other general practitioners

Sessional work

GP teacher has small independent patient load-does 3 sessions per week (based on 3.5 hours per session). 80% of billing retained by GP Teacher.

GP hourly rate based on 4 Level B (2 × MBS fee $34.40+ 2 × AMA fee $64) +100% bulk billing item (mean $8.35 of urban and rural location rate). Source: AMA

Medical students-GP teacher undertakes clinical teaching and patient load

15 hours medical student teaching per week 7 hours of which involves seeing patients (2 per patients per hour). GP teacher receives 100% of billings

GP hourly rate based on 4 Level B (2 × MBS fee $34.40+ 2 × AMA fee $64) +100% bulk billing item (mean $8.35 of urban and rural location rate): Source: AMA

Receives all teaching allowance Practice Incentive Payment

$100 per session (3 hours)-max 2 session per day through Medicare Australia

Interns-GP teacher has teaching and supervisory role

GP teacher receives 100% of income generated by the interns

Interns-Income per patient $453.38 (based on Item 23 100% fee + bulk billing item) and mean number of patients seen per week from AOGP database

Receives all teaching allowance from PGPPP

$43,680 per annum (urban) or $38,400 per annum (rural) for PGY1

Source: GPET funding

GP registrars-GP Teacher has teaching role

GP teacher receives teaching allowance and practice component of registrar income

$32,296 per year for GPT1

Source: GPET funding (GP Registrars)

Practice

Practice retains all practice subsidies

Interns-$29,000 per annum

GPT1 Registrar-$32,296 per year

Source: GPET funding (GP Registrars)

Practice retains % GP registrar income

45% of income generated by GP registrar

GP Registrar income-Income per patient $50.39 (based on Level B (half MBS fee $34.40+ half AMA fee $64 + 100% bulk billing item). Source: AMA

Practice retains 20% of income generated by the GP teacher from their 3 independent sessions per week

Costs of teaching by GP and practice accounted for but with an efficiency saving of teaching time by 25%

The practice retaining 30% of income generated by the other general practitioners during the 10 hours they are now no longer involved in teaching (based on only saving 50% of that time)

GP income: hourly rate based on 4 Level B (2 × MBS fee $34.40+ 2 × AMA fee $64) +100% bulk billing item (mean $8.35 of urban and rural location rate). Source: AMA