The AMA last week launched its “Modern Medicare” campaign calling on the major political parties to commit to addressing the urgent need for reform and investment in Australia’s general practices.
The national campaign will call for reforms to enable GPs to spend more time with their patients including out of hours, greater access to nurses and allied health professionals in general practices, targeted incentives to enable GPs to provide extra services for Residential Aged Care Facilities, virtual patient enrolment and incentives for those wishing to enter general practice.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said it was time the Government recognised the pressure Australia’s GPs were under to keep healthcare affordable and accessible, with Medicare funding arrangements now out of date – made worse by inadequate indexation of the Medicare rebate and a previous Medicare freeze.
“Doctors working in general practice have been forced time and time again to wear the brunt of these real cuts to Medicare,” Dr Khorshid said.
“GPs have not received the support they deserve or need from successive Governments. The health care needs of patients have become much more complex as the population has aged yet Medicare is stuck in the 1980s. We need serious reform to put general practice on a more sustainable footing, capable of delivering the type of care that many patients now need,” he said.
Dr Khorshid said the AMA’s plan for a Modern Medicare would improve health care at a primary care level for Australians.
The AMA’s detailed and costed plan, posters for practices, and a range of video resources highlighting the benefits of modernising Medicare for patients are available on the campaign website. The AMA will be advocating for a Modern Medicare for general practice right up to election day.
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