Budget reveals $5.7 billion general practice investment

The Federal Government has announced a host of additional general practice funding in the 2023–24 Budget, reflecting many of the RACGP’s advocacy requests. 
 
More than $5.7 billion is set to go towards general practice over the next five years, with the package including:

• $445.1 million to support a 30% increase to the Workforce Incentive Program, increasing the maximum payment to $130,000 per practice
• $99.1 million to facilitate the creation of a new level E MBS item for consultations lasting 60 minutes or longer
• $3.5 billion over five years to triple the bulk billing incentive
• $112 million over four years, separate the Strengthening Medicare funding, to introduce a new general practice in aged care incentive payment
• Funding for longer telehealth item numbers, tied to registered patients (not bulk billing)
• $145 million to support after-hours care, targeted at homeless and culturally and linguistically diverse people
• $50 million for wound consumables, specific to patients with diabetes aged over 65 years
• the extension of Practice Incentive Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI) payments for at least another 12 months
• $4.5 million over five years to increase rural generalist trainees by expanding the single employer model trials by a further 10 trial sites from 1 July

During his Budget speech, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the new measures will reduce cost and wait times, while extending consultation lengths.
 
‘One of the things that makes this the best country in the world is our shared belief that every Australian should be able to access affordable, reliable healthcare,’ he said.
 
‘It will ensure that, for millions of people, the quality of your healthcare is guaranteed – not by your credit card but by your Medicare card.’
 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said the Budget represents the largest investment in general practice care in decades, and shows that the Government is heeding the college’s message about general practice’s central place in Australia’s healthcare system.
 
‘This $5.7 billion funding package puts patients first,’ she said. ‘It will help to stem the bleeding, relieve pressure on our hospitals, and ease pressures on people struggling to afford the care they need.
 
‘I’m delighted the Government has listened and responded to the RACGP’s calls to support our GPs, practice teams and the patients we care for.
 
‘[It] will make a real difference for all Australians and is what the RACGP has been working with Government to secure for some time.’
 
Under the changes, metropolitan children and concession card holders bulk billed by a GP will receive a $60.40 Medicare subsidy, compared to the standard $39.75 rebate.

In regional Australia, this will increase to $71.15 for children and concession card holders, while in the most remote areas the rebate will extend to $79.40.
 
Medicare rebates will also be increased twice in 2023, which will lift the current level B MBS item from $39.75 to $41.40 by the end of the year.
 
Dr Higgins said funding for multidisciplinary care and a new 60-minute MBS item is especially welcome, while the increased bulk billing incentive will provide GPs with more options when treating vulnerable patients.
 
‘Tripling the bulk billing incentive will help to increase access to care for those Australians who need it most and arrest the decline in bulk billing,’ she said.
 
‘A new Medicare item, Level E, for consultations over 60-minutes, will improve access to care for patients with complex needs, such as those with chronic conditions. 
 
‘The substantial increase in the Workforce Incentive Program [WIP] is a positive step to enable general practice to grow existing multidisciplinary care teams within general practice. This is essential support for GPs caring for people with complex chronic disease.’
 
The new level E MBS item will provide patients with a $183.66 rebate, which will rise to $205 when incentives for children and pensioners are added.
 
Finally, the RACGP President cautiously welcomed the introduction of longer telehealth consultation items, which she noted had no bulk billing requirement attached.
 
Dr Higgins said the RACGP will continue to work with the Government on longer-term reforms to strengthen Medicare and rebuild general practice care for patients.
 
‘We’re pleased Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler has heeded the RACGP’s calls and reinstated Medicare patient rebates for longer phone consultations as a permanent fixture of the nation’s telehealth system,’ she said. 
 
‘Tonight’s Budget is the result of strong advocacy by the RACGP on behalf of our members and their patients.  
 
‘We will continue to work with the Government on these critical reforms to strengthen Medicare and rebuild general practice care for Australian patients.’
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

bulk billing Federal Budget longer consultations Medicare Workforce Incentive Program