2022 reports and submissions

The RACGP have provided a submission to the Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare (the Inquiry).

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO) audit of the Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP).

The RACGP response provides feedback on the draft revised PBS Post-market Review (PMR) Framework.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Department of Health and Aged Care consultation on the establishment of a Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care on Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) heart health assessment items.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman’s (NHPO) review of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (Ahpra) vexatious notifications framework.

The RACGP submission highlights the key role of GPs in cancer care and provides recommendations for consideration.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Medical Board of Australia public consultation on the regulation of medical practitioners who provide cosmetic medical and surgical procedures.

The RACGP has prepared a response to the Department of Health and Aged Care consultation on their new in-home aged care program.

On 5 October 2022, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) hosted the General Practice Crisis Summit in Canberra to provide a space to discuss solutions to the critical challenges impacting patient access to affordable, quality care from a financially viable general practice sector.

The RACGP has provided a response to The Department of Home Affairs discussion paper, providing comment on matters relating to the development of the National Data Security Action Plan (the Action Plan). The paper is focused on data security policy settings for state and territory governments, industry and the broader economy.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Department of Health and Aged Care on the revised Aged Care Quality Standards - 23 November 2022

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Standing Committee on Health, Aged care and Sport’s inquiry into long-COVID and repeated COVID infections.

The RACGP thanks the Cancer Council Australia for the opportunity to commend on the draft Clinical practice guidelines for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance for people at high risk in Australia, 2022.

The RACGP has endorsed the National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance Guidelines for the management of absolute cardiovascular risk.

The second Federal Budget of the 2022-23 financial year was released on Tuesday 25 October. This additional budget outlines the new Federal Government’s priorities for 2022-23 and beyond.

The RACGP’s response to the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling (ACMS) of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provided feedback on several of the proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard for paracetamol.

The RACGP’s response to the Heart Foundation of Australia on the Draft Australian guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular risk provided feedback on the comprehensive draft for public consultation.

The RACGP’s response to the Heart Foundation of Australia on the Draft Australian guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular risk provided feedback on the comprehensive draft for public consultation.

The RACGP has prepared a pre-budget submission for the federal October Budget.

The RACGP is supportive of appropriately resourced, fit-for-purpose measures to improve medication management in residential aged care.

The RACGP supports the guidelines approach in placing the child with autism and their family at the centre of informed decision making.

The RACGP has written to the Deputy Secretary of Health Resourcing in the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Ms Penny Shakespeare, regarding the exclusion of GPs from the authorised certifier group for the continuous glucose monitoring initiative forms

Queensland Health sought feedback on proposed amendments to the Extended Practice Authority – Pharmacists Version 1 document for the sections that reference the recent Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot – Queensland (UTIPP-Q) arrangements which have now been made permanent.

The Department of Health sought feedback from key stakeholders in relation to their public consultation paper for the review of the Phase 4 of the National Bowel Screening Program (the Program).

The Department of Health has commissioned IPS Management Consultants (IPS) to undertake an independent review of Nurse Practitioner Collaborative Arrangements.

The RACGP has provided a written submission on the Department’s management of the expansion of telehealth services between 2020 and 2022.

The RACGP’s response highlights the key role of general practice, which requires appropriate support within existing systems, and collaboration and integration between GPs and specialist workers.

The RACGP response highlights the assessment tool cannot replace comprehensive GP knowledge. Mental health and physical health care needs to be integrated and tailored to suit patient need

The RACGP welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the MSAC Application 1698 - Chronic Pain MedChecks Trial

The RACGP welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the MSAC Application 1665. Our response highlights a number of issues with the proposed service.

The RACGP provided a submission to the Health and Environment Committee’s Inquiry into the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022.

The RACGP opposes both the down scheduling of Budesonide from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3, and changes to amendments to the Schedule 4 entry for hydroxypinacolone retinoate.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the public consultation for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications in People Living with Dementia and in Residential Aged Care.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Medical Board of Australia have commissioned an independent review of the regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery.

Date: 8 April 2022 The RACGP’s response highlight the important role of GPs to aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with ADHD and connect patients and their families with other specialists and support as necessary.

The RACGP’s response supports the commitment of the National Tobacco Strategy to reduce the amount of tobacco use and improve the health of all Australians.

The Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 is intended to strengthen the government’s compliance powers regarding corporate entities and to align the primary legislation governing health provider benefits.

The Health Minister’s Council is seeking views on the use of the title ‘surgeon’ by medical practitioners. Our response outlines support for reform to the National Law by restricting the title ‘surgeon’ to specialist medical practitioners with significant surgical training, while opposing any changes that would exclude GPs from being able to use the title.

The Federal Budget 2022-23 is targeted towards addressing the increasing cost of living for many Australians post-COVID-19 and preparing the political landscape for the upcoming Federal Election. A Budget Summary has been prepared.

The RACGP response to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care highlights the broader systemic, social and geographic issues that contribute to higher incidences of stillbirth.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Department of Social Services on the Draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners thanks the Medical Services Advisory Committee for the opportunity to respond to the Structured prenatal risk assessment for preterm preeclampsia consultation.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) ‘Exploring future data and information needs for aged care issues paper - Issues Paper’.

The RACGP recommends that the key role of GPs in cancer care be clearly articulated and supported throughout the Plan.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Department of Health’s ‘General practice data and electronic clinical decision support - Issues Paper consultation’.

The RACGP provided comment regarding the inclusion of anti-obesity medications on the PBS.

The RACGP’s response highlights concerns that the introduction of a cost recovery model will act as a barrier to the introduction and availability of effective new technologies and services, negatively impacting patient care.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Consultation for the Australian Digital Health Agency Cyber Security Strategy Summary.

The RACGP submission to the inquiry into the provision of primary, allied and private health care, aged care and NDIS care services and its impact on the Queensland public health system had a rural focus

The RACGP provided comment to the Western Australian Health Translation Network (WAHTN) regarding the review of the Draft Australian Standards for Wound Prevention and Management 2022.

The RACGP has written to the Department of Health to seek changes to the telehealth existing relationship rule that will allow immunocompromised general practitioners (GPs) and those that are in isolation (because they have tested positive for COVID-19 or furloughing due to exposure to a confirmed case) to safely continue care for their patients.

The Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2021 is intended to strengthen the government’s compliance powers regarding corporate entities and to align the primary legislation governing health provider benefits.

The RACGP provided comment regarding the inclusion of anti-obesity medications on the PBS.

The RACGP has provided a response to the House Select Committee’s ‘Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety’

The RACGP has developed a response to the Nurse Practitioner 10 Year Plan consultation survey

The RACGP has released its 2022-23 pre-budget submission