Three reviews that examined some of the structures and systems that underpin Medicare, general practice and primary care are now complete:
- the Review of General Practice Incentives
- the Review of After Hours Primary Care Programs and Policy, and
- the Working Better for Medicare Review.
All three reviews were recommended in the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, which brought together representatives from across the health sector, including doctor groups, nursing groups, allied health and rural professionals, First Nations perspectives and patient perspectives, alongside a range of other experts.
The three reviews involved extensive consultation with primary care and health workforce stakeholders.
The Government will consult with the sector as it considers the recommendations and findings of the three reviews.
Review of General Practice Incentives (Incentives Review)
The final report of the Incentives Review was developed by a nine-member panel of Australia's leading experts in primary care.
The Incentives Review examined the incentive payments made to GPs and general practices by Medicare, to ensure funding systems are effective and support the patient-centred and multidisciplinary care that Australians will need into the future.
The independent review recommends a new general practice payment architecture to support multidisciplinary care, including increased Commonwealth investment.
Review of After Hours Primary Care Programs and Policy (After Hours Review)
The After Hours Review examined the system that supports primary care services outside of usual general practice opening hours, including how to support Australians to get the care they need, when they need it, reducing demand on hospital emergency departments.
The review found that the after hours primary care system is complex, fragmented, and difficult to navigate.
The review identified five opportunities for improvement including:
- making after hours care more accessible and affordable for patients
- improving quality and safety
- better integration of after hours care into our urgent care system to reduce pressure on emergency departments
- ensuring the financial viability of after hours primary care providers, and
- supporting after hours primary care in regional, rural and remote areas.
Working Better for Medicare Review
The Working Better for Medicare Review examined how existing policies to attract and distribute the health workforce, including for regional, rural and remote areas.
The independent review was led by Professor Sabina Knight AM and Adjunct Professor Mick Reid AM and makes 26 recommendations, including proposing changes to workforce distribution levers.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce brought together the health sector to point the direction towards a stronger Medicare that is more equipped for Australia in the 21st century, with an ageing population and an increase in chronic conditions.
"These three reviews involved extensive consultation across the health sector, and further consultation with stakeholders will be critical, as the government seeks to understand the impact of the various recommendations, both in isolation and collectively.
"We need to work with the health sector to understand how to minimise disruption to healthcare providers and patients, as we consider the recommendations in these reviews."
