Despite vulnerable patients now being exempt from any out-of-pocket costs, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) labels the revised model proposed by Government as unacceptable.
Under the newly proposed model, the Government has proposed a cut in the Medicare rebate paid to GPs by $5 for a standard consult in a bid to address the ‘troublesome issue of six-minute medicine’.
RACGP President, Dr Frank Jones said the RACGP is opposed to the latest proposed alternate model which directly targets general practice.
“The Government has again placed the onus on GPs to charge patients $5 to cover the Government’s cut to the Medicare rebate or absorb the cost themselves,” said Dr Jones.
“The practical implications of this proposal will translate to problematic ethical decisions for GPs as to whether to charge patients the $5 rebate, especially when there is a real acute clinical need.
“It remains unclear why the Government would seek to target general practice in isolation in its attempt to set a price signal, particularly when we know it is the most cost efficient pillar of the Australian healthcare system.
“The RACGP’s position remains firm; we do not and will not support any cut to Medicare rebates.”
The Government also announced that in order for GPs to receive the standard rebate, consultations must be at least 10 minutes and that the level of rebate would be frozen over the forward estimates.
“Even though the most recent BEACH report reveals less than 10% of all consultations are six minutes, with the average consultation averaging 15 minutes, the proposed change in the time based factor for short consults has some merit and the RACGP will progress this initiative with Government.
“General practice and primary healthcare needs significant investment as a result of an aging population, an increasing prevalence of chronic disease, and workforce shortages.”
The RACGP remains committed to negotiating an outcome with Government that best supports the delivery of general practice patient services.