Australian government is taking every possible step towards developing ways to ensure a continued access to primary health care for its citizens during the corona virus pandemic. Australian Minister for Health, The Hon Greg Hunt MP, in a joint media release with Professor Michael Kidd AM, Principle Medical Advisor, addressed the general public on the current COVID-19 issue and what efforts government is making to offer its best regarding provision of primary health services during the crisis. In the media release which was published on 29th March 2020, the Australian government stated that it is expanding Medicare-subsidized tele-health services for all the citizens of Australia and also providing extra incentives to GPs and other health practitioners.
According to media release, the Government partnered with all key stakeholders in the sector to bring these critical changes, including the Australian Medical Association, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, , Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Allied Health Professionals Australia, Australian Psychological Society, and the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.
Government is using tele-health as a key weapon in the fight against the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic and dilating the consultation services available by tele-health is the next critical stage. These services will include GP and some other various consultation services provided by other medical specialists, chronic disease management, mental health treatment, , nurse practitioners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments, pregnancy support counseling, services to patients in aged care facilities, services to people with eating disorders, services to patients in aged care facilities, and late hours consultations.
In the media release, it is described as the fourth stage of a series of primary health care measures, and commenced from 8am Monday, 30th of March.
Furthermore, it was stated that Australia’s primary health workers are on the frontline in leading the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-health services will reduce unnecessary exposure of health professionals as well as patients to COVID-19, wherever phone or video-conferencing can be used to deliver required services safely.
Tele-health services will reduce load on hospitals and emergency departments, allow all Australian citizens to access essential health services from their homes, and make self-isolation and quarantine policies easy to manage in order to reduce or eliminate risk of spread of corona virus. Vulnerable doctors will also easily continue to deliver services to their patients.
The government, in this media release also announced that it will double the bulk-billing incentive for General Practitioners, both for face-to-face and tele-health services, as an incentive during the course of the COVID-19 response. The government took this step to facilitate sustainable support for medical service providers, and ensure substantial concession to vulnerable patients who need continued medical services in a timely manner. Further measures will be taken which will allow GPs and other medical service providers to follow their usual billing practices to tele-health consultations, while vulnerable patients will continue to receive services at no cost through concessions offered by the government.
In addition, the government will also establish an incentive payment to ensure health services providers stay open for face-to-face services where it is crucial for patients with chronic conditions that can’t be treated through tele-health.
Moreover, under stage 5, the Government will also continue to work on collaborating with non-GP specialist tele-health services, as Government’s number one priority is protecting and supporting its citizens who are vulnerable to COVID-19.
Government’s media release also ensured that it will eliminate any unintended barriers to accessing health care services for patients who are more vulnerable. At the same time, the need to support GPs so they could keep their doors open during these extremely difficult times was also taken into serious consideration as such initiatives will support both GPs and their patients. Government also encouraged patients to discuss with their doctors about the most appropriate course of care they should follow, be it via tele-health or face-to-face meeting.
The new Government reforms will commence from Monday 30th March and will continue till 30 September 2020, and will be reviewed further according to the need to continue war against corona virus (COVID-19).
