More than half of Strengthening Medicare reforms complete

Just one of 47 initial reforms under the Federal Government’s ‘Strengthening Medicare’ agenda is yet to begin, according to a new monitoring report.
 
The report shows 57% of measures, which range from the introduction of urgent care clinics (UCCs) to the tripled bulk-billing incentive for concession card holders, have already been delivered.
 
A total of 18 reforms are still being implemented, as of June this year.
 
The lone early initiative not yet to leave the planning phase was the Wraparound Primary Care for Frequent Hospital Users program, which had $98.9 million committed across four years in the 2023–24 Federal Budget.
 
Another measure, the ‘development of innovative delivery models’ to support health services in thin markets, was previously being implemented, but was back in planning after receiving further top-up funding.
 
However, just one of the completed measures had been fully evaluated, with planning underway for the evaluation of 27 others.
 
The report’s implementation status update does not include the Federal Government’s $7.9 billion bulk-billing investment, which was announced in February and came into effect last month.
 
‘Strengthening Medicare measures, comprising of evolving reforms, are being introduced and implemented progressively, and reflect the complexity and breadth of the transformation occurring within the Australian healthcare system,’ the authors write.  
 
‘Findings from new and existing measures, as well as recommendations arising from the Strengthening Medicare joint reviews, will help guide future coordinated and cohesive improvements to primary care in Australia.’
 
The initial measures were developed in response to a report from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, which was convened shortly after the 2022 Federal Election as an advisory group to shape high-priority actions for primary healthcare reform under the new Labor Government.
 
Chaired by Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler, with a variety of consumer and healthcare profession representatives including the RACGP President, it delivered its analysis in late December 2022.
 
More detailed measures were set out in subsequent Federal budgets.
 
The monitoring report also highlights the wide uptake of the General Practice Grants Program announced as part of the reforms, with almost all clinics using the one-off funding of up to $50,000.
 
A total of $189.3 million was provided to 7047 general practices and $3.8 million to 126 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, with funding available for three broad areas.
 
Nine in 10 general practices used the grant for digital health capability, with 72% also investing in infection prevention and control, and 84% committing funds to maintain or achieve accreditation against RACGP standards.
 
The grants program is the only initiative which had been fully evaluated by June, with a report from the Nous Group consultants released by the Government late last year.
 
Three further Strengthening Medicare monitoring updates are planned, including ‘Year in Review’ reports and a ‘summative evaluation’ in 2029–30.
 
The highlights for the next edition are expected to include detail on the tripling of bulk-billing incentives for all patients, the 50 new Medicare UCCs promised this year, the launch of the mental health national early intervention service as well as the 1800MEDICARE telehealth service, and an update on new workforce and women’s health measures.
 
There is also likely to be information on ‘selected local investments to improve access to bulk-billed primary care’ although the recent report provides no further specific detail.
 
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