Primary care boost for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

While this week’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2019–20 featured relatively little for GPs, one notable outcome was a $7.2 million initiative to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and older in the new voluntary patient enrolment model of care coming into operation on 1 July next year.
 
According to the Acting Federal Health Minister Anne Ruston, the three-year investment will ‘formalise and strengthen the existing relationships between [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] patients and their GP, and improve continuity of care and patient experience through the provision of non-face-to-face services’.
 
‘It recognises the reduced life expectancy of Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians, and underlines the Government’s commitment to reducing this gap,’ she said.
 
‘Continuity of care has been demonstrated to improve patient and population health outcomes in general practice, ensuring a more holistic, long-term approach.’
 
Under the initiative, GPs in accredited practices can enrol their regular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and claim a one-off enrolment fee, followed by ongoing quarterly payments for the care provided.
 
The Government believes the model will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with a ‘more convenient care package’ that will involve:

• better access to clinical advice or follow-up consultations over the phone or via secure email
• prescribed medications and repeat referrals provided without the need for a face-to-face visit (where clinically appropriate)
• increased proactive care, such as reminders for tests or immunisations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health primary care voluntary patient enrolment