Greens pledge sweeping GP investment

The Greens have unveiled a proposal to roll out a suite of changes aimed at benefiting GPs and their patients ahead of a looming Federal election, including opening 1000 free healthcare clinics.
 
On Thursday, the party revealed that it will, if ‘pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations’, call for a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive for everyone with a Medicare card, not just current eligible cohorts.
 
It will also implement a 20% increase to Medicare patient rebates for longer appointments and ensure GP trainees receive the same pay as their hospital counterparts.
 
The RACGP said, overall, these proposals showed a ‘clear understanding of the investment needed’.
 
However, it has raised significant concerns about the party’s headline promise of establishing 1000 free local healthcare clinics across Australia.
 
Under the proposal, these would be staffed by government-employed healthcare professionals providing free services, with a GP, dentist, registered nurse or psychologist on site.
 
Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt said the plan would see at least six  free clinics opening in each of the nation’s electorates.
 
‘In a wealthy country like ours everyone should be able to get the healthcare they need, but more and more people are putting off health appointments because they can’t afford it,’ he said
 
The ambitious plan has drawn the ire of the RACGP, with college President Dr Nicole Higgins saying, ‘there is no such thing as free’ in health care.
 
‘We know from how much it costs taxpayers for urgent care centres and hospitals that these are hugely more expensive than the cost of seeing a GP to the taxpayer,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘For example, treating an earache is less than $43 at the GP but if that same person presents to an urgent care centre it’s just under $300 and if they present to an emergency department it’s $650.
 
‘You get best bang for your buck by investing in existing general practices and providing incentives to support those who need it the most.’
 
Dr Higgins said there are already several different clinic models, and it is becoming confusing for patients.
 
‘We don’t need yet another type of health clinic to confuse patients in what is already a really confusing health landscape for patients to navigate,’ she said.
 
‘This will confuse patients and increase costs through duplication and fragmentation of care.
 
‘What we need is for the political parties just to get back to basics with general practice and not to provide confusing distractions for political gain.’
 
The college has long raised concerns about the growing use of urgent care centres and nurse-led walk-in clinics, citing fears of patient safety and access to quality care.
 
But the RACGP has applauded the Greens on other aspects of its $56 billion, decade-long policy, with much of it in line with the college’s advocacy asks.
 
‘Meaningful investment is needed to improve access to affordable GP care for all Australians, and I applaud the Greens for matching the RACGP’s calls for a 20% increase for patient rebates for longer appointments – this will make a huge difference at a time when many are struggling,’ Dr Higgins said.
 
‘A strong GP workforce is essential for a healthy Australia, but we know too many young doctors are put off from specialising in general practice due to the pay gap when they leave hospital training.
 
‘The RACGP has been calling for Government to encourage more home-grown doctors into general practice, including by closing the pay gap for GPs in training, and funding the entitlements GP registrars lose when they enter private practice.’
 
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GPs in training Medicare Urgent Care Centres