The recent federal budget has announced a $5.7 billion boost for general practice, with the centrepiece being the tripling of the incentive paid to doctors who bulk-bill certain patients. This measure is expected to benefit over 11 million people who have a Medicare card. However, there are other changes that have been announced that could affect how Australians see their GPs.
Bulk-billing
Bulk-billing is when a GP charges the same fee as the benefit Medicare pays them to provide the service, meaning the patient pays nothing out of pocket. The government has flagged that it will increase the amount of money it pays GPs to bulk-bill patients who are under 16, pensioners, or those who have a concession card. The amount paid will depend on the GP’s location, with those in remote areas receiving the most. The added incentive will help close the gap between the cost of providing healthcare and the amount GPs receive from the government. However, some GPs may still take a financial hit if they bulk-bill patients, and not all may be able to afford to do so.
Other measures
The budget also includes funding for a voluntary scheme called MyMedicare, which asks patients to register with their preferred practice and GP. There will also be additional funding to support multidisciplinary ‘wrap around’ services to those patients and for general practices that provide tailored care to patients who frequently use hospitals.
From September, certain prescription medications will be available at double the amount at no extra cost, and scripts will last longer, meaning fewer trips to the GP. From November, there will be a new Medicare rebate to allow for consultations up to an hour, benefiting patients who have chronic health conditions or need mental health support.
Telehealth consultations will also be funded for up to 40 minutes, and there are plans to set aside $358 million over five years to support Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. These clinics deal with cases that are urgent but not life-threatening and are designed to take pressure off stretched hospital emergency departments.
Impact on GP availability
While these changes are positive, they may not immediately improve GP availability. Australia needs more GPs, and until there are more, it may still be difficult to get an appointment quickly. However, the government has included measures to try and make general practice a more attractive specialty and encourage clinics to open after hours. There is also funding to encourage multidisciplinary healthcare, where allied health workers work alongside GPs to deliver some of the more standardised care so GPs have more time to spend on complex cases.
Conclusion
The recent federal budget has announced several changes that could affect how Australians see their GPs. While the tripling of the incentive paid to doctors who bulk-bill certain patients is a significant boost, there are other measures that aim to improve access to healthcare. However, until there are more GPs available, it may still be challenging to get an appointment quickly. The government has included measures to try and make general practice a more attractive specialty and encourage clinics to open after hours, which could help address this issue in the long term.
Source: abc.net.au
