Senate inquiry report backs increase in funding for general practice

The report validates the call from the AMA for a fairer model for general practice fit for the future.  

An interim Senate report from the Community Affairs References Committee has called for across the board increases in funding for general practice.  

The committee has been inquiring into the provision of general practitioner and related primary health services to metropolitan, rural, and regional Australians.  

The report has made it clear Medicare funding for general practice services is inadequate.  

The report has validated the AMA’s call for a new fairer funding model and structure of GP services, to benefit both GPs and Australians living outside metropolitan areas.  

General practice has had to deal with inadequate indexation of Medicare rebates since Medicare was introduced and patient rebate freezes under both major parties.  

The interim report has also made other important recommendations in support of strengthening general practice. These include expanding opportunities for young doctors in training to experience general practice while also highlighting the need for employment reform for GPs in training, who have inferior employment conditions when compared to their hospital-based colleagues.   

The AMA is lobbying the major parties in the lead-up to the election to fund general practice fairly and for the future.