Vision for Australia's Health

Pillar 1: General Practice

Integrated, multi-disciplinary GP led patient-centred medical homes represent the foundation of an evidence-based healthcare system. This is underpinned by increased funding rewarding quality, as well as industry and expertise to achieve the most cost-effective optimisation of health outcomes for patients and families, regardless of geography. This focuses on management of chronic and/or complex diseases, reduction in preventable hospital admissions and improved stewardship of resources, including in the aged care sector. Equally, it is important to recognise that General Practice is critical to aged care services and mental health services – two significant and growing health areas.

GOALS ENABLERS OUTCOME MEASURES

1.1 Implement voluntary GP nomination, allowing all patients to nominate their preferred or regular GP/General Practice.
  • Embed the concept of the patient-centred medical home in Australia.
  • Improve the coordination of long-term care for patients, leading to improved healthcare outcomes for patients.
  • 80 per cent of all patients have a nominated General Practice by end of 2022.
1.2 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates for GP telehealth via a patient’s nominated General Practice are available for all clinically appropriate circumstances where a face-to-face visit is not required/possible.
  • More flexible access to care for patients.
  • Cost and mobility barriers for patients are improved, including the need to take time off work, travel and pay for travel – thus helping the most vulnerable in our society.
  • Improved productivity in both General Practice as well as the broader workforce, where telehealth is appropriate and infrastructure provided.
  • Number of new telehealth MBS items and their uptake by General Practice.
1.3 Improve access to GP coordinated community care for patients.
  • Link Medicare Chronic Disease Management and health assessment items to voluntary patient nomination from 2021.
  • Introduce an extended ‘Level B’ consultation to allow greater routine care of more complex patients without disrupting current routine care.
  • Restructure MBS consultation items to remove the current remuneration bias so that longer, more complex consultations are better valued.
  • Support patients with hard to heal wounds by funding the costs of dressings for targeted patient groups.
  • Improve Medicare funding arrangements for after-hours GP services provided by a patient’s usual/ nominated General Practice.
  • Improved management of chronic disease in General Practice.
  • Reduction in avoidable hospital admissions.
  • Reduction in some preventable presentations at emergency departments.
  • Measurable increase in average GP consultation times via an established and agreed methodology and mechanism, noting the loss of the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) reporting.
  • Increased access to after-hours care by patients.
1.4 Lift caps on subsidies available through the Commonwealth Department of Health’s Workforce Incentive Program.
  • Enhanced access to GP-led team-based care for patients.
  • Increased employment of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals in General Practices.
1.5 Improved access to GP care for elderly patients through their usual GP, ensuring continuity of care.
  • Greater access to GPs in nursing homes, improved management of health conditions, falls reporting, polypharmacy.
  • Significant investment in funding models that better support the delivery of GP services in nursing homes.
1.6 Introduction of the Single Employer Model for GP trainees, offering competitive remuneration and working conditions for GP trainees.
  • General Practice perceived as a more attractive career option for graduating medical students and doctors in training.
  • Reverse the decline in recruitment to the GP training program and ensure that Australia has a strong GP-led primary care system.
  • GP trainees have equivalent working conditions to their hospital-based colleagues.
  • GP training meeting its annual recruitment targets.
  • Sustainable growth in GP numbers, matched to community need.
  • Increased desire of medical students to choose a General Practice career upon leaving medical school.
  • Introduction of the Single Employer Model for GPs in Training by start of 2022 or 2023.
  • All Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) spots filled nationally, with surety to prioritise and incentivise rural placements and areas of workforce shortage to meet community needs.
1.7 General Practice funded and resourced to transform and innovate.
  • Targeted annual rounds of infrastructure grant funding to support training and multi-disciplinary care in General Practice.
  • Funding support through the Practice Incentive Program and the MBS that enables the adoption of innovative models of care including telehealth, point of care testing and remote monitoring of patients.
  • Funding for ACCHOs infrastructure and practice beyond COVID-19 prevention.
  • Number and take-up of grant opportunities.
  • Adoption of new technology in General Practice including point of care testing, video consultations and remote monitoring.
  • Conversion to 50 per cent e-prescriptions by end of 2022.
  • Enhanced My Health Record upload rate.
  • Increased facilities and infrastructure at ACCHOs.
  • Improved access for rural and regional areas and disadvantaged communities.