Rural general practitioners in Australia: costs, returns & relative work value of rural compared with urban private general practitioners

Abstract

Aims: * To conduct a rurally focused study of GPs in Australia, to address rural GPs' concerns about remuneration, and consumers' concerns about access to rural GPs. * To examine costs, prices, returns and work value differentials between rural and urban GPs. Significance: * The first systematic economic evaluation of rural GP remuneration and work value in Australia. * Reflection of the profession's geographical heterogeneity in policy recommendations. Expected outcomes: * Improved measurements of effects of geographcial location on costs, remuneration and relative work value of rural GPs. * Improved understanding of effects of differential rates of GP bulk-billing.