AMA welcomes government reviews into GP incentives and Medicare

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said the reviews, released by Health Minister Mark Butler yesterday, signalled a positive step forward in modernising general practice funding and primary care workforce programs.

“These reviews, arising from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, recognise the need for reform in several key areas to improve primary care in Australia,” Dr McMullen said.

“The reports are significant and collectively have a large number of intersecting recommendations. We look forward to working constructively with the federal government and the Department of Health and Aged Care to ensure changes to these programs are evidence-based, reflect the realities of modern general practice, reduce red-tape for GPs and improve patient care.

“We are glad to see the government taking these issues seriously, but there is a long way to go to ensure the challenges facing general practice, primary care and the health workforce are addressed — and it will require significant investment.”

Dr McMullen labelled general practice the “cornerstone of successful primary healthcare in Australia”, adding that it must be well equipped to respond to the country’s evolving health challenges.

“The issues addressed in the three reviews are issues on which the AMA has been calling for action for many years,” she said.

“Much of the work conducted by the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce echoes the work of the AMA, including our 10-year framework for primary care reform released in 2020.

“We have called for better indexation of patient and GP rebates under Medicare, as well as a restructuring of MBS items, and increases to the Workforce Incentive Program.

“We hope that by working with us, the federal government can use these reviews to generate the right kind of funding and reform for Australia’s GPs.”