The RACGP president has called for respect, understanding and a rebuilding of trust as the bulk-billing debate continues.
Last weekend saw the rollout of the federal government’s signature health policy with a wave of social media promising “free care”.
Health care is not free.
The reality is that while many patients and practices will benefit from these changes, many others won’t.
As the policy rolls out, GPs and practices need to be respected for choosing to act in the best interests of their patients, and the long-term viability of their clinics.
After a near decade-long Medicare freeze and years of chronic underfunding, many GPs are nervous about switching back to a system that once again makes them 100% reliant on government funding decisions.
For these GPs, this decision is fundamentally a trust issue, not just a financial one.
While this government has shown its commitment to Medicare, there is no guarantee a future government will do the same.
GPs need long-term certainty for their practices and for their patients.
Practices and GPs across Australia will do what is in best long-term interests of their patients, their practices, and the communities they serve.
Nobody wins if practices are forced to close their doors for good because practice running costs can’t be covered.
We ask all patients, and the government, to respect the billing practice of their GP, and to speak to practice team staff members with respect and courtesy – they’re only doing their job.
Commentary around GP income does nothing to grow trust with GPs that the impacts of this policy are understood.
These new incentives:
- do provide additional payments for consultations, but only if they are bulk billed;
- are higher in rural and regional Australia than in cities;
- don’t increase the Medicare rebate, which was frozen for much of the last decade.
Generally speaking, this means there will be most increased support to bulk-billed services where the incentives are highest – in regional and remote Australia, and also in practices with faster patient turnover, who can maximise the increased incentive.
The changes will be less helpful for city practices, where the incentives are lower but the costs of providing care are not; or for practices providing more complex care.
These changes don’t fix the structural disparity in Medicare – when you spend longer time with a patient, you are paid relatively less than for quicker visits.
These changes are coming at a time when GPs are spending more time with patients, providing more complex care for an ageing population living with more mental and health conditions.
If you need more information about the changes, or support in understanding them for you or your practice the RACGP has produced resources to assist all practices.
Associate Professor Michael Wright is a GP, health economist and president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
