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‘Set rebates based on evidence, not politics’: RACGP
An independent pricing body is needed to protect GPs and patients from healthcare becoming a political pawn, says the college.
‘It’s really time to move beyond the political cycle and set these rebates based on evidence rather than politics,’ says the RACGP President.
The RACGP says the Federal Government must commit to the protection of primary healthcare in future governments by establishing an independent pricing authority.
Making the call on Monday, RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said GPs need long-term certainty that their practices will remain sustainable, and Medicare rebates that ‘accurately reflect the true cost of delivering care’.
‘It really is an opportunity for the Government to future-proof its changes and give some guarantee to patients into the future, and also some certainty and trust for GPs and for practices to know that there’s sustainable funding into the future,’ he told newsGP.
‘Establishing this authority could also give GPs the confidence to adopt the fully bulk-billed model of care the Federal Government is asking them to embrace.
‘An independent pricing authority is going to set the fees based on evidence, value and cost, rather than the political agenda.’
In a 2023 newsGP poll, more than four in five respondents said they would welcome an independent statutory body to set the level of Medicare rebates.
The RACGP’s calls form part of its 2026–27 pre-Federal Budget submission, but an independent pricing authority has also been recommended in the Government’s own 2024 Scope of Practice Review.
However, Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said the Government is ‘not ready to hand off responsibility’ for Medicare fees and rebates.
‘It’s not our focus right now,’ he told the ABC.
‘After six years of a freeze on the Medicare rebate under the former government, they’re obviously concerned about the possibility of that happening at some time in the future.
‘But, for our Government, Medicare is the most important social program we have – we’re determined to strengthen it and to make sure it works for Australians.’
Dr Wright said while he understands the Government has multiple priorities, ‘obviously future-proofing Medicare is one that we all share’.
‘For decades, Medicare rebates have failed to keep pace with inflation, let alone the costs of care, and we’ve seen freezes set by both sides of Parliament,’ he said.
‘It’s really time to move beyond the political cycle and set these rebates based on evidence rather than politics.’
The latest Blue Report from online health directory Cleanbill shows 40.2% of surveyed general practices now offer full bulk billing, compared to 20.7% a year earlier.
But it also found gap fees are climbing, with 7.7% of Australians delaying seeing a GP because of cost in 2024–25.
‘That is unacceptable in a country that prides itself on universal healthcare,’ Dr Wright said.
The RACGPs 2026–27 pre-Federal Budget submission, which is yet to be publicly released, also calls for:
- targeting funding for patients with complex healthcare needs
- building the general practice workforce
- equitable health outcomes through research-informed healthcare
- preventing the health impacts of racism.
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