2 May 2023

GPs need more respect as well as money: Butler

Medicare Political TheHill

The Health Minister wants to bring the health system out of the 80s, he told the National Press Club.


Health Minister Mark Butler’s address to the National Press Club today went large on vaping, but revealed only scant new details on incoming Medicare reforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged several big items in the budget for health last week, including the introduction of a blended funding tied to a voluntary patient enrolment model.

The big announcements continued to roll today, but Mr Butler did not get granular with funding details.

“The Treasurer will give a full accounting of the dollars and cents behind those investments in the budget next week, as well – I stress – as other initiatives that are still to be announced,” he said.

Mr Butler said that he “has no higher priority” than fixing general practice and that he would be working to address the problems “comprehensively”.

“I have talked to young doctors through the AMA and through the college and it is not just about money – yes, it is a bit about money – but it is also about culture and it is also about the respect that general practice attracts from governments, but also others in the health sector,” he said.

There will be three main pillars of reform, with the first centring around improving digital health.

Mr Butler confirmed that $950 million would go toward continued funding for My Health Record and the Australian Digital Health Agency, with My Health Record in particular to get a boost.

“If a patient gets a scan or pathology test, those results should be uploaded,” he said.

“At the moment this happens by exception, rather than the rule. I say now, I intend to make it a rule.”

The second “foundational change” will be in multidisciplinary team care, with Mr Butler expanding on the previously announced voluntary patient enrolment program, which is to be called My Medicare.

“Over time, My Medicare will be extended to nurse practitioners and to other primary care providers,” he said.

“Patients will gain a stronger relationship with their health care teams and will get access to more consistent care, including longer telehealth consultations under Medicare.

“Providers will get access to new funding packages and more information about their regular patients, so they can provide more tailored care to those patients.”

Mr Butler’s third pillar is support for and investment in the primary health workforce.

This includes the announcements from Friday on funding for primary care nursing placements, as well as more money for pharmacy programs.

“We can’t keep trying to treat 21st-century Australia with a 1980s Medicare system,” he said.

“We will listen to all the good arguments and the evidence about the way forward, but our north star will always be what is good for Australians.”

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GEORGE QUITTNER
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GEORGE QUITTNER
5 months 22 days ago

Respect must be earned.
THEN a GP can earn the dollars.

Jim Kyriacopoulos
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Jim Kyriacopoulos
6 months 28 days ago

“It’ s a bit about the money..”
Expect that. A but. A small bit.

marc
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marc
6 months 29 days ago

prepare to get screwed if you are a tennant doctor

Tom
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Tom
6 months 29 days ago
Yes, the only way out of this’s nightmare, is that doctors must totally own their their own clinic, redefine care-and charge. This may result in burning off a few nervous nellies (doctors) in the clinic and yes, patients leaving, but focus on quality , spending time with patients and charge accordingly. It’s already beginning to happen. To show the hypocrisy of the govt approach , they acknowledge the pathetic fee that BB offers, but then as you’re trying to survive, they promise to open BB clinics that reinforces the current circumstances thereby providing competition -ie free vs fee. I know… Read more »
Tom
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Tom
6 months 29 days ago
Who’s kidding who under the guise of Dr Livingstone , Mother Teresa or nurse Nightingale – it’s fundamentally about the money and any pretend otherwise is false. Specialists can earn up to 10 x what a Gp makes nowadays as there’s no money in itemised consultations. No- now you need a scalpel, or ‘scope of some kind to plunder the MBS – as its procedural based. Plus , the medical world has divided into two: with the Gp funded by a socialist approach -ie dependent upon govt goodwill for fu ding as opposed to specialist who source their income from… Read more »
peter morrison
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peter morrison
6 months 29 days ago
teams dont really save money or lead to better outcomes in a lot of situations (not all). within a practice, gp’s and nurses can really work together. but once you get , say, a patient with a significant mental health issue you get pyschologists, headspace, the local mental health unit, case managers, nurse navigators, social workers , and half a dozen other “tom,dick and harry’s” and all you end up with is fragmentation of care, where everyone can pass the buck . i see the same with a lot of these add on services. hospital clinical nurse consultants and diabetic… Read more »
Generally enraged
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Generally enraged
6 months 29 days ago
A good example being stimulant prescribing by psychiatrists who send patients off into the ether without any intention of reviewing them. They demand prescribing, monitoring and titration of a heavily controlled medication by the GP, washing their hands of any responsibility so they can continue with their cash cow initial assessments. I was recently presented with a form a psychiatry practice instructed my patient to get me to sign prior to their initial appointment saying I would be the primary prescriber of any medication they recommended. No thanks, not without your oversight doc. Also- they DID attend medical school right?… Read more »
Linda
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Linda
6 months 27 days ago

I have less concern about continuing stimulant meds for my own patients, who I provide all other care for, so long as I ” know the rules”. I have yet , however, to successfully complete thee needed forms on the first try. It is this that is going to stop me doing this in the future

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