RACGP unveils 19-point plan for general practice shake-up At a major launch inside Parliament House, it called for the expansion of bulk-billing incentives to everyone under 35 and revealed plans to halve out-of-pocket costs for longer consults.
What does the $573m women’s health package mean for GPs? Labor’s plan, matched by the Coalition, includes new PBS listings for contraceptive pills and MHT, new rebates, funded training, and bolstered Medicare payments for IUD insertions.
RACGP calls for PHN overhaul The college says evaluation of long-term goals, and reform to better integrate general practice with the wider health system, are needed.
‘A big difference’: Poisons Standard change brings hope Reduced paracetamol pack sizes are now in force, as a new report highlights the number of children hospitalised due to preventable medicine-related issues.
World experts urge overhaul of obesity definition The Global Commission on Clinical Obesity says diagnosis must change, setting out new criteria, categories, and calling on doctors to go ‘beyond BMI’.
‘Too little, too late’: An investigation into medication shortages How are medication shortages affecting GPs and their patients? Calls are being made to change how they are being managed and communicated.
GPs’ role in gun ownership assessments expands Recent changes mean New South Wales GPs can conduct a health risk assessment to determine a patient’s suitability to possess a firearm, helping authorities ‘make informed decisions’.
Spotlight falls on ‘forgotten people’ of mental health care New analysis highlights huge life expectancy gaps for those with severe mental illness – and suggests a funding shortfall of around $8 billion.
Calls to delay changes to B12 testing Potential changes to item descriptors, fees and claim frequencies are scheduled for July, but doctors are calling for further consultation, saying ‘additional red tape for GPs should be avoided’.
GPs are ‘specialists in life’: Health Minister addresses GP24 Mark Butler has vowed to keep seeking GPs’ input, as Australia walks the ‘path towards a more multidisciplinary, GP-led, team-based primary care’.