RACGP unveils key asks ahead of Federal Budget

The RACGP is ramping up its calls for a Medicare makeover, saying the current system is limiting access for patients battling the cost-of-living crisis.
 
As the 2024–25 Federal Budget looms, the college is calling on the Commonwealth to fund a raft of measures aimed at improving access to care and affordability for all Australians.
 
The pre-Budget submission comes amid mounting evidence patients are delaying critical healthcare because it is too expensive.
 
Recent data shed a light on this alarming trend, with the number of patients who delayed or did not see a GP last year due to cost doubling.
 
In a bit to combat this, on the RACGP’s is advocating for fully-funded universal annual child health checks via MyMedicare registration for the first 2000 days, with research showing support in this period is more effective than at any other time in life.
 
This would come at a cost of $838 million each year.
 
The plea is in line with a recommendation from the National Disability Insurance Scheme review, which called for the checks to be expanded and nationally consistent.
 
In its submission, the RACGP is also urging the Federal Government to rollout a 20% increase to all Medicare rebates for Level C and D consultations with an additional increase applied to MMM 3–7, at a cost of $373.8 million annually.
 
It also is calling for a 20% increase to Medicare rebates for general practice mental health items, and decoupling GP Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) items from the Better Access Initiative, as well as funding for patients to see their GP within seven days of an unplanned hospital visit.  
 
The RACGP has suggested this last request could be funded by expanding eligibility for Medicare Health Assessment Items to include ‘Discharge within seven days of hospital’, costing $63.4 million each year.
 
With almost 720,000 hospital readmissions reported annually in Australia, many preventable, a 12% reduction would save at least $69 million annually.   
 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said these changes would help keep Australians out of hospital, reducing costs for both governments and taxpayers.
 
‘When people can’t afford it, they get sicker and go to hospital, which costs taxpayers much more. A typical GP consult is $40, whereas a hospital visit costs $600,’ she said.
 
‘Together, these investments will make Australia healthier, set our children up for a healthier life, reduce pressure on hospitals and lead to a stronger economy.’
 
The RACGP’s pre-Budget submission advocates for a bundled payment to support coordination of care for non-Indigenous patients aged 75 years and over with multiple comorbidities and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients aged 55 years and over via MyMedicare.
 
Additionally, it is calling for greater support for practices to grow their teams and employ other health professionals.
 
This would be done through a top-up increase to the Workforce Incentive Program, with a proportion of funds dedicated to the employment of a general practice-based pharmacist.
 
Dr Higgins said it is vital that practices are supported to grow, with evidence showing the value of team care for patients.
 
‘Teams with GPs and nurses help people stay out of hospital, while having a pharmacist in the practice improves the quality of prescribing and reduces costs for patients,’ she said.
 
‘It also frees up time for patients needing urgent or complex care, because GPs can delegate to other qualified team members.  
 
‘So, supporting practices to grow their teams will directly benefit patients, improving access to care and reducing costs.’
 
The plea for change comes after last year’s Federal Budget was welcomed by the college, with Dr Higgins labelling it a ‘critical first step to rebuild Medicare and general practice after decades of underfunding’.
 
The 2023–24 Budget included more than $5.7 billion for general practice over the next five years, including $3.5 billion to triple the bulk billing incentive.
 
However, the college argues that significant changes are still needed to make general practice more attractive for prospective doctors.
 
‘It is essential Australia takes comprehensive steps to boost the prestige and viability of general practice to attract and retain the next generation of GPs,’ the submission said.
 
‘Without this workforce, the entire primary healthcare system is in jeopardy.’
 
It is a point echoed by Dr Higgins.
 
‘General practice is essential, and it needs to be able to thrive in every community,’ she said.
 
‘I urge the Government to use this next Budget to continue its work to strengthen Medicare and general practice for generations to come.’
 
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