The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling on the Federal Government to invest in a funding model that supports improved general practice services through the implementation of the medical home in its 2014–15 pre-budget submission.
To address rising costs for patient services whilst retaining a focus on quality and equitable healthcare, the RACGP has outlined a number of recommendations to better meet the healthcare needs of Australian communities.
RACGP President, Dr Liz Marles said it is well known that improved primary healthcare services reduce healthcare costs through improved chronic disease management, improved health service integration, decreased emergency department presentations and decreased inappropriate/preventable admissions.
“Investment in general practice and primary healthcare has remained static since 1998, while hospital costs continue to place strain on health funding1.
“Despite the known benefit of improved general practice services in reducing healthcare costs, general practice is still not fully utilised to address the health challenges Australia currently faces.
“In order to achieve the overall health efficiency the Government is seeking, it must restore investment to general practice.
“The funding dollar must follow patient need if GPs are to continue providing the care that our population requires most,” said Dr Marles.
The need for the general practice workforce to be adequately resourced to deliver appropriate and high quality services within the medical home framework is also highlighted within the submission.
“A lack of GPs will ultimately decrease the availability of general practice services, and increase pressure on more expensive alternatives, including emergency department use and hospital admissions.
“If the Government is committed to achieving the best possible health outcomes, an investment in building a robust and viable general practice is vital to its success,” said Dr Marles.
The RACGP is calling on the Government to commit to the funding and implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023, developed by the Department of Health, in order to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing and achieve the Closing the Gap targets.
The RACGP’s 2014–15 pre-budget submission can be viewed in full on the RACGP website.
1Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2013 [Internet]. Canberra (AU): Productivity Commission; 2013 [cited 31 January 2014].