Medicare has received a funding boost touted as the largest in history with the aim of making it “easier and cheaper” for Australians to see a doctor.
Tuesday’s federal budget unveiled a $5.7 billion package over five years.
A funding boost of $3.5 billion will triple bulk billing incentives for doctors attending the most common consultations – children under the age of 16, pensioners and other concession card holders.
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The higher bulk billing incentive will enable about 11.6 million Australians to access a GP at no out-of-pocket costs.
The incentive applies to all face-to-face and telehealth GP services between six and 20 minutes long, all other face-to-face GP consultations and longer telehealth and GP consultations where a patient is registered with their regular practice through MyMedicare.
An investment touted as the largest of its kind is set to impact how millions of Australians go to their local doctor.
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it was the largest increase to the bulk billing incentive in history.
“Families are being forced into a lose-lose choice between getting the help they need or paying their bills,” he said.
“This robs parents of peace of mind; it puts families under strain. It means more problems go undiagnosed or untreated. And it means our workforce is not as healthy or productive as it could be – and should be.
“We want to change that.”
In a bid to ease congestion and bed blocking in hospitals, $358.5 million has also been invested in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.
This includes eight new clinics, on top of the $235 million committed in the October budget.
The urgent care clinics are designed for more immediate injuries and ailments, including broken bones, that don’t require long stays in hospital.
These clinics will also bulk bill.
Medicare has received a funding boost touted as the largest in history with the aim of making it “easier and cheaper” for Australians to see a doctor.
Credit: AAP
The Royal Australian College of GPs welcomed the budget as a “game changer” for GPs.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said it was a win for patients.
“Every patient deserves access to high-quality, affordable and accessible general practice care, irrespective of their postcode or income,” she said.
“I commend the Albanese Government for committing to this massive investment in general practice care. We know the problems impacting our health system can’t all be fixed in one go, but tonight’s budget includes a groundbreaking investment in the health of all Australians by strengthening general practice care.
“The government has shown real commitment to strengthening Medicare and rebuilding general practice care for all patients.”
The changes to Medicare weren’t the only investments in public health made in the budget.
Lowering out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare was one of the budget’s priorities in its $14.6 billion cost-of-living relief package.
A major facet of that was increasing access to medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Some $2.2 billion was invested in increasing access.
A further $449.4 million was allocated for new and amended listings to the National Immunisation Program.
Some patients with common, chronic illnesses will also save $180 per year under a reform to the maximum dispensing quantity of medicines.
From September, patients deemed eligible by a GP will be able to receive two months’ worth of medication instead of one.
The budget estimates this would