RACGP President meets with Health Minister to discuss ‘pain points’ From payroll tax reform to telehealth, the NDIS and urgent care clinics, Dr Nicole Higgins sat down with Mark Butler to ensure GP voices are being heard.
RACGP calls for telehealth reforms The college has said improved access to high-quality and culturally appropriate online consultations is key to improving health inequalities.
Remove ‘blanket preference’ for video telehealth: Review A report considering telehealth in Australia has recommended a key MBS telehealth principle be changed.
GPs urged to contact MPs about assignment of benefit concerns The RACGP has issued a letter template for members, which includes a request to make verbal consent to bulk bill telehealth a permanent feature.
Virtual care piloted for pregnant women A new program has launched to urgently connect those with symptoms of pregnancy loss to a midwife, but GPs say they need to be kept in the loop.
More paperwork would drive 94% to private billing: Poll The newsGP survey results follow a move by Services Australia to introduce extra bureaucracy for bulk billed telehealth.
In Practice: Vigabratin substitutions The TGA has said that the tablet form of the epilepsy medication is in scarce and enabled pharmacists to replace it with oral sachets.
Concerns over possible telehealth indemnity gaps The RACGP has queried some insurers’ policies towards exemptions to the ‘established clinical relationship’ requirement.
Is the number of GP consultations going down? The use of MBS item 23 has fallen significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but telehealth is likely to have had an impact.
Scrap preference for video telehealth consultations: RACGP The college has said the current MBS principle lacks evidence and could compromise access to care.