2023 reports and submissions

RACGP Queensland Budget submission 2024-25

The RACGP supports the proposal of the Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill 2023, which would create new statutory duties for significant decisions likely to result in substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions

RACGP provides a response to the MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) Telehealth post-implementation review

The RACGP has long called for an end to or, at very least, a serious revamp of the PBS Authorities system

RACGPs submission regarding the National Autism Strategy

The RACGP’s response states the GP’s role in osteoarthritis management.

The RACGP has provided a response to The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists on the RANZCP Diploma of Psychiatry Offering Consultation.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute on the Draft Guideline for growth, health and developmental follow-up care for young children born very preterm.

The RACGP thanks the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) for the opportunity to provide a submission to Application 1758 – Expansion of MBS item numbers 12320 & 12322 for bone mineral testing to include patients aged 60-69 years.

The RACGP has provided a response to the MBS Review Advisory Committee on the Post implementation review of changes to colonoscopy MBS items.

The RACGP continues to be concerned about the conflation of diagnosing and prescribing skills and that the role of diagnosis in prescribing is being diminished.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Department of Home Affairs and the National Emergency Management Agency consultation on ‘Alternative Commonwealth Capabilities for Crisis Response’.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) on possible changes to the National Boards’ English language skills requirements.

The Health Services (Health Service Establishments) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations) made under the Health Services Act 1988 (the Act) set minimum requirements for the safety and quality of patient care in Victoria's private hospitals, day procedure centres and mobile health services.

GPs play a central role in prevention, as well as diagnosis and management of diabetes. The RACGP has provided recommendations to improve care for people with diabetes in a submission to the Inquiry into Diabetes in Australia.

The RACGP supports the TGA proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products. Specific feedback was provided on regulatory reforms that impact GP prescribing of vapes.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists _Standards for Perioperative Medicine_ aim to enhance patient care and safety while minimizing any ambiguities or inconsistencies but are not intended to serve as complete manual on how to practice Perioperative Medicine.

The RACGP was pleased to provide a submission to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (Ahpra) review of the Criminal history registration standard.

The RACGP submission to the Inquiry into Equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for individuals with rare and less common cancers, including neuroendocrine cancer highlights the crucial GP role in rare and less common cancer care which needs to be appropriately supported.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) on the new power to issue interim prohibition orders (IPOs).

The RACGP supports the RANZCOG evidence-based clinical guidelines on abortion care. This guideline will be helpful for GPs who support women in the various aspects of reproductive health. A sound implementation strategy and accompanying support will be key to ensuring the guideline is used in the primary care stetting.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The RACGP commends the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) for their work in producing the Draft Standard. Heavy menstrual bleeding affects a significant percentage of women of reproductive age. The RACGP provides comments relating to the quality statements outlined in the draft document for consultation and recommendations for consideration.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia on the Consultation regulation impact statement

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian Pharmacy Council on the Performance Outcomes for Aged Care and Medication Management Review (MMR) Pharmacists Education Programs.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has provided a submission on the National Health and Climate Strategy. The submission includes feedback on the four proposed objectives of the strategy: measuring emissions, mitigation, adaptation, and health in all policies

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) welcomed the opportunity to meet with the review team to discuss the interim report on overseas health practitioner regulatory settings and appreciates the invitation to provide formal feedback through this submission.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) appreciates the opportunity to provide a response to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ discussion paper, ‘Safe and responsible AI in Australia’.

The RACGP welcomes efforts to support GPs and other health professionals to deliver high-quality and safe telehealth consultations to their patients.

The RACGP thanks the Department of Health and Aged Care for the opportunity to comment on the Exposure Draft, Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Legislation, 2023.

The RACGP has provided a response on the draft Fourth National Hepatitis B Strategy 2023-2030 and Sixth National Hepatitis C Strategy 2023-2030. The RACGP’s response highlights the importance of the GP’s role and provides recommendations regarding hard-to-reach populations, training requirements and support for GPs.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services Review Scheme) Bill 2023.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) thanks the National Diabetes Service Scheme for the opportunity to provide feedback on the National Diabetes Service Scheme products.

The RACGP thanks the DOH and Aged Care and Medicines Australia for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review Terms of Reference

A response to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on the Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the barriers to consistent, timely and best practice assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and support services for people with ADHD.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia.

The RACGP has joined other health consumer and health practitioner organisations in writing an open letter to all Federal Parliamentarians asking them to put patients first and support 60-day medicine dispensing.

The RACGP has responded to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) review of the merger between Australian Clinical Labs Limited (ACL) and Healius Limited (Healius). The RACGP letter highlights the potential impacts of this merger on access to healthcare for patients across Australia.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Mid-Term Review of the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) Addendum 2020-2025 to outline opportunities to drive integration and collaboration between primary and secondary health systems and provide maximum return to both health systems.

The RACGP has written to the Medical Board of Australia to raise concerns about the referral requirement in the Advance Copy of the Guidelines for registered medical practitioners who perform cosmetic surgery and procedures

16 May 2023 - The RACGP is pleased to respond to the Amendment to Healthcare Identifiers Regulations, 2020 consultation.

15 May 2023 - The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian Pharmacy Council on the Accreditation Standards for Pharmacist Training Programs - Aged care and comprehensive medicine review.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Queensland Parliament’s Health and Environment Committee in response to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Surgeons) Amendment Bill 2023.

The Federal Budget for the 2023-24 financial year was released on Tuesday 10 May. This additional budget outlines the new Federal Government’s priorities for 2023-24 and beyond.

The RACGP has provided a submission in response to the discussion paper for the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality. The RACGP's response provides a number of recommendations to help address the health barriers faced by women, particularly those experiencing disadvantage.

The RACGP has provided a response to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on the Framework for Australian clinical quality registries, Second Edition consultation.

The RACGP has written to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) seeking clarity on recent changes by PBAC to the General Schedule (Section 85) listing, population criteria and treatment criteria for fluticasone propionate 50 microgram indicated for the prophylactic management of asthma.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s inquiry—Migration, Pathway to Nation Building. The inquiry is considering numerous areas related to Australia’s migration system and the respective influences to nation building.

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s inquiry—Migration, Pathway to Nation Building. The inquiry is considering numerous areas related to Australia’s migration system and the respective influences to nation building.

3 March 2023 - The RACGP has provided a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care regarding their Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) on general practice data and electronic clinical decision support (eCDS).

6 March 2023 - The RACGP has provided a written submission to the Commission on the draft Guide for the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Health Standards.

6 March 2023 - The RACGP supports the TGA’s decision to reduce paracetamol pack sizes, however, the RACGP recommends that pack sizes should be reduced further. The RACGP also reiterates our previous recommendation that modified release paracetamol should be upscheduled to prescription-only.

6 March 2023 - The RACGP has provided a submission to Ahpra about the changes to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.

3 March 2023 - The RACGP has written an open letter to Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler about the compliance letters concerning chronic disease and practice nurse MBS items.

28 February 2023 - The RACGP is pleased to respond to the Healthcare Identifiers Framework Project Consultation . The consultation led by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) aims to create a more connected and integrated health system with a national approach to Healthcare Identifiers (HIs).

21 February 2023 - RACGP submission to the Senate inquiry on the extent and nature of poverty in Australia.

20 February 2023 - The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) on its draft Data strategy.

17 February 2023 - The RACGP response to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s ‘Increasing access to health and aged care: a strategic plan for the nurse practitioner workforce’ (also known as the Nurse Practitioner Workforce 10 year Strategic Plan) reaffirms our position that nurse practitioners should work as part of general practice teams.

15 February 2023 - The RACGP submission responds to the published Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. The submission highlights the key role of GPs for sport players who have received a concussion and repeated head trauma.

15 February 2023 - The RACGP has responded to the Medical Board of Australia regarding the draft revised Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients (the guidelines).

30 January 2023 - The RACGP has prepared a pre-budget submission for the upcoming 2023 Federal Budget.

13 January 2023 - The RACGP has provided a submission on the ACSQHC’s draft National Consensus Statement.

13 January 2023 - The RACGP has provided feedback to Dr Pradeep Philip, Chair of the Review of Medicare Integrity and Compliance commissioned by the Minister for Health.

16 January 2023 - The RACGP thanks the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the opportunity to respond to the public consultation on Potential reforms to the regulation of Nicotine Vaping Products, November 2022.

31 January 2023 - The RACGP response to the National Dementia Action Plan consultation broadly supports the National Dementia Action Plan.

5 December 2022 - The RACGP has provided a response to the Department of Health and Aged Care on the Regulatory options to allow references to the TGA in therapeutic goods advertising consultation.