President’s Update: Medicare investment must be backed up with real reform
In his latest President’s Update, Dr John Williams responds to Medicare funding announcements from both major parties and expresses his support for an action plan to protect doctors’ mental health.
Health is always a hot topic ahead of an Australian federal election. In fact, a recent Roy Morgan poll suggests this year it’s the second most important issue for voters behind cost-of-living pressures. For some time, we’ve been waiting for both major parties to show their cards. This week they showed their cheque books.
In case you missed the headlines, on Sunday the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $8.5 billion in funding for Medicare – the single largest investment in the scheme since its creation more than 40 years ago. A few hours later the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton promised to match the government’s commitment ‘dollar-for-dollar’.
The AMA has campaigned relentlessly about the need for urgent investment in primary care and it’s heartening that both major parties have heeded our calls. But our leaders must ensure the money is spent wisely and addresses the need for systemic reform.
Labor’s commitment includes a plan to expand bulk billing incentives to all Australians and create an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient. The Coalition is yet to reveal the specifics of its plan, but Mr Dutton says it will ‘ensure all Australians have timely and affordable access to a doctor’.
Based on what we understand right now, it seems that both parties are focussed on making GP care more affordable. This is an important consideration. We know that cost is a major barrier for some people seeking care.
But providing affordable care is only part of the solution. The AMA believes GPs must also be better supported to provide high-quality care so they can manage the complex needs of Australia’s ageing population.
The current out-of-date Medicare funding model is biased towards shorter visits. Our Modernise Medicare plan promotes a new seven-tier GP consultation item structure which supports GPs to spend more time with their patients without being penalised for it.
The benefits for patients are obvious, but there’s also a significant benefit for the health system as a whole. By properly supporting GPs to provide comprehensive care to their patients through longer consultations, we can reduce avoidable hospital admissions which contribute to problems like ramping and bed block.
Modernise Medicare sets out a vision for the kind of generational reform Australia needs. Although we welcome the significant commitments from both major parties, we will continue to advocate for our plan. The AMA stands ready to work with politicians of all stripes to make sure Australia’s healthcare needs are understood and funded properly.
Radio interview: Dr Williams responds to Medicare funding announcements
Mental health action plan
On Friday the National Doctors Health and Wellbeing Leadership Alliance (NLA) launched an action plan to protect the mental health of doctors in the workplace. It was unveiled by NLA Chair and the AMA’s Immediate Past President Professor Steve Robson at a summit in Sydney.
The action plan was developed under the Every Doctor, Every Setting Framework and sets out specific steps to make the mental health and wellbeing of the medical profession a national priority. It has the full backing of the AMA and we’re calling on all levels of the health system to get behind it.
Here in South Australia, I remain concerned about high rates of bullying, harassment, racism and discrimination reported by junior doctors. According to the results of the 2024 Medical Training Survey, one in five junior doctors in our state has experienced one or more of those psychosocial hazards.
We’re working closely with the South Australian Government, SA Health and Local Health Networks to find ways to improve workplace culture in our public hospitals and minimise troubling behaviour. We’re committed to doing everything we can to support all doctors so they can enjoy long, successful and safe careers. When doctors’ health and wellbeing is affected, so too is their capacity to provide best-practice care.
Yours in good health,
John