What is it like for a GP working in a Health Care Home? There are around 170 now operating as part of a trial but the experiences of those doctors involved has rarely been made public. This is the story of one doctor originally keen to embrace the radical funding reform. It makes for grim reading. At his request, we have kept his identity anonymous.

“It was sold to us as a game-­changing reform that would finally free our practice and patients from the restrictions of Medicare.

But 16 months after joining Health Care Homes, it is increasingly clear that the program is not benefiting any of us in our practice.

All we have done is create more work for ourselves. The lump sums given to the practice to care for each chronic disease patient — ranging from $600 to $1800 a year — run out very quickly. It means I spend more time arguing with my practice manager than looking after my patients.