Submission: referral pathways changes must strengthen, not weaken coordinated patient care
We have lodged a submission to a consultation on modernising referral pathways, emphasising that any changes must strengthen — not weaken — coordinated patient care.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing consultation paper focuses primarily on referral pathways between general practitioners (GPs) and non-GP specialists, as well as from one non-GP specialist to another non-GP specialist.
Our submission maintains that while the current referral framework is not perfect, it largely supports clinically appropriate, coordinated care.
Targeted reform could improve access to care, particularly through changes to the National Health Reform Agreement rules that currently prevent public hospital emergency department referrals from being used for private specialist Medicare billing. Fixing this anomaly would reduce duplication, delays, and inequity for patients.
However, we strongly oppose proposals to extend the default 12-month GP referral validity period or move to a system of default indefinite referrals. Regular reconnection with a patient’s GP is essential for safe, coordinated care, especially for people taking multiple medications or seeing several specialists. GP-led continuity of care remains fundamental to patient safety, particularly for patients with chronic and complex conditions.
Our submission also highlights ongoing digital barriers. Many GPs and non-GP specialists still cannot upload to My Health Record using their current software, and secure messaging systems remain unreliable across the sector. Without major improvements, longer referral validity periods risk weakening communication between treating clinicians and increasing patient safety risks.
The federal AMA supports measures to improve transparency and patient information, including standardising referral content and ensuring patients are routinely offered copies of their referrals and specialist reports.
A key priority identified is ensuring that referrals from public hospital emergency departments are recognised as valid for private specialist Medicare billing. This simple change would reduce unnecessary repeat GP visits, speed up access to care, and remove an inequity that currently disadvantages many patients.
