Medicare needs an ‘urgent shake up’, says PM Anthony Albanese

It’s been a long time coming, but the government is now looking into a major Medicare overhaul.

As many of you know firsthand, the current system is largely failing Australians as bulk billing all but disappears and timely appointments are increasingly difficult to book.

The Australian government has recently announced ambitious plans to completely overhaul Medicare, introducing what they are calling a ‘modern’ version of the system that we use today.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up', forcing many Australians to miss out on the vital healthcare they need.

'This has been discussed for many years. We had pilots on it when we were last in government, particularly in the area of diabetes,' Health Minister Mark Butler said.


Screen Shot 2023-01-23 at 4.30.35 pm.png
Medicare is long overdue for an overhaul. Image Credit: Shutterstock



'More of the same is simply not going to cut it. Strengthening Medicare means also modernising Medicare,' Mr Butler said.

It is yet to be determined exactly what a modern Medicare will look like, but the government is working on a ‘blended’ primary care delivery system, where nurses and pharmacists will be allowed to take on more roles.

This reform comes after a worrying drop of seven per cent in bulk-billing rates in the past year alone, and patients who are unable to access timely appointments due to understaffed GPs.

The Health Minister went on to explain that the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now 'more than the rebate fee itself'.

And while efforts to reduce wait times have stalled, demand for GPs has skyrocketed.



Emergency department visits have also doubled over the past four years, as a result of a lack of access to GPs, placing even more pressure on an already strained hospital system.

In addition, previously unheard-of wait times for surgery, tests, and scans have become commonplace in public hospitals.

'What this means is that too many Australians simply can’t get the care that they need when and where they need it out in the community, and too many are ending up instead in hospital emergency departments, placing even more pressure on an already very, very stressed hospital system,' Mr Butler said.



Mr Albanese said it risked completely overwhelming the health system.

He also expressed the urgent need to update Medicare, saying the country's primary care system is 'stuck in the 1980s and 1990s' and its systems 'no longer make sense.'

'What we know we need to do is fix primary health care,' he said.


shutterstock_2178134071 (2) (1).jpg
Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up'. Image Credit: Shutterstock



At the heart of the government's plan to shake up Medicare is the idea of introducing a ‘blended’ funding model and sharing the load of primary care with other health practitioners.

This would mean expanding the scope of primary care to cover nurses, paramedics and allied health practitioners, who could work in teams to deliver complex care.

The effectiveness of ‘blended’ primary care models has long been discussed, and there were trials conducted when the Labor government was last in power.

In this model, funding is ‘wraparound’ and intended to provide better access to care for those with chronic conditions, or those disadvantaged by the current fee-for-service system which provides inherently unequal access to healthcare services.

By providing a more comprehensive model, the government hopes to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase the availability and quality of primary care, and reduce the pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.



The success of the blended model hinges on having the resources available to build better teams and a more collaborative approach, as well as the ability of the government to deliver on its promise of investment in the system. It remains to be seen what the final recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce contain, and how significant its impact on primary care will be.

'Labor has no higher priority than strengthening Medicare, rebuilding general practice to ensure that Australians get the world-class healthcare they need when and where they need it out in the community.'

Key Takeaways

  • The Australian government is considering a significant overhaul of Medicare, potentially opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists.
  • The need for reform is due to bulk billing rates plummeting by seven per cent in the past year.
  • Patients are struggling to get timely appointments with their GPs due to a slimmer workforce and exploding demand.
  • The government is considering rolling out a ‘blended’ funding system for nurses and allied health practitioners delivering complex care.

But the Opposition’s Health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, has slammed Labor, accusing them of cutting Medicare and reducing access to mental health treatments instead of supporting Australians.

'So far they have cut Medicare and cut access to Medicare-rebated mental health sessions in half from 20 to 10 sessions,' she said.



'The Labor government also promised to have 50 urgent care clinics up and running by July this year - but we still do not know the exact locations of these clinics, bringing to question if they will even be delivered at all.'

'Labor must outline tangible actions and a plan to support our healthcare workers and hospital systems, rather than just making announcements and promises with no details or information,' Senator Ruston said.

In the coming weeks, the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be released. The program will guide decisions that the government needs to take in the coming May budget to finalise the investment in the ‘strengthening Medicare fund’.

Interested in reading more about this? In December, we looked into a recent report which claims ‘Medicare no longer works for patients or GPs.’ You can read more here.

Members, if you’re worried about how this proposed overhaul may affect you, then you’re not alone. We’ll be sure to bring you the latest information as soon as it comes to hand, so stay tuned!

You may like to watch 7NEWS’ coverage below:

 
Last edited:
Sponsored
It's all just so much hot air. There is far too much talk and not enough action. I would love for my pharmacist to be able renew my prescriptions without me needing a doctor's appointment just for prescription renewal. There has to be a better way for people like me who are on medications that don't change from year to year. :)
 
My last visit to my doctor on my last pension day was paid for as normal but my rebate still hasn't gone back into my account from Medicare. I really need those $ 39.00 dollars to pay for my medication this week. Come on Labor get your ducks in a row so we feel we voted for the right party.
 
It’s been a long time coming, but the government is now looking into a major Medicare overhaul.

As many of you know firsthand, the current system is largely failing Australians as bulk billing all but disappears and timely appointments are increasingly difficult to book.

The Australian government has recently announced ambitious plans to completely overhaul Medicare, introducing what they are calling a ‘modern’ version of the system that we use today.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up', forcing many Australians to miss out on the vital healthcare they need.

'This has been discussed for many years. We had pilots on it when we were last in government, particularly in the area of diabetes,' Health Minister Mark Butler said.


View attachment 12110
Medicare is long overdue for an overhaul. Image Credit: Shutterstock



'More of the same is simply not going to cut it. Strengthening Medicare means also modernising Medicare,' Mr Butler said.

It is yet to be determined exactly what a modern Medicare will look like, but the government is working on a ‘blended’ primary care delivery system, where nurses and pharmacists will be allowed to take on more roles.

This reform comes after a worrying drop of seven per cent in bulk-billing rates in the past year alone, and patients who are unable to access timely appointments due to understaffed GPs.

The Health Minister went on to explain that the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now 'more than the rebate fee itself'.

And while efforts to reduce wait times have stalled, demand for GPs has skyrocketed.



Emergency department visits have also doubled over the past four years, as a result of a lack of access to GPs, placing even more pressure on an already strained hospital system.

In addition, previously unheard-of wait times for surgery, tests, and scans have become commonplace in public hospitals.

'What this means is that too many Australians simply can’t get the care that they need when and where they need it out in the community, and too many are ending up instead in hospital emergency departments, placing even more pressure on an already very, very stressed hospital system,' Mr Butler said.



Mr Albanese said it risked completely overwhelming the health system.

He also expressed the urgent need to update Medicare, saying the country's primary care system is 'stuck in the 1980s and 1990s' and its systems 'no longer make sense.'

'What we know we need to do is fix primary health care,' he said.


View attachment 12111
Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up'. Image Credit: Shutterstock



At the heart of the government's plan to shake up Medicare is the idea of introducing a ‘blended’ funding model and sharing the load of primary care with other health practitioners.

This would mean expanding the scope of primary care to cover nurses, paramedics and allied health practitioners, who could work in teams to deliver complex care.

The effectiveness of ‘blended’ primary care models has long been discussed, and there were trials conducted when the Labor government was last in power.

In this model, funding is ‘wraparound’ and intended to provide better access to care for those with chronic conditions, or those disadvantaged by the current fee-for-service system which provides inherently unequal access to healthcare services.

By providing a more comprehensive model, the government hopes to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase the availability and quality of primary care, and reduce the pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.



The success of the blended model hinges on having the resources available to build better teams and a more collaborative approach, as well as the ability of the government to deliver on its promise of investment in the system. It remains to be seen what the final recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce contain, and how significant its impact on primary care will be.

'Labor has no higher priority than strengthening Medicare, rebuilding general practice to ensure that Australians get the world-class healthcare they need when and where they need it out in the community.'

Key Takeaways

  • The Australian government is considering a significant overhaul of Medicare, potentially opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists.
  • The need for reform is due to bulk billing rates plummeting by seven per cent in the past year.
  • Patients are struggling to get timely appointments with their GPs due to a slimmer workforce and exploding demand.
  • The government is considering rolling out a ‘blended’ funding system for nurses and allied health practitioners delivering complex care.

But the Opposition’s Health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, has slammed Labor, accusing them of cutting Medicare and reducing access to mental health treatments instead of supporting Australians.

'So far they have cut Medicare and cut access to Medicare-rebated mental health sessions in half from 20 to 10 sessions,' she said.



'The Labor government also promised to have 50 urgent care clinics up and running by July this year - but we still do not know the exact locations of these clinics, bringing to question if they will even be delivered at all.'

'Labor must outline tangible actions and a plan to support our healthcare workers and hospital systems, rather than just making announcements and promises with no details or information,' Senator Ruston said.

In the coming weeks, the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be released. The program will guide decisions that the government needs to take in the coming May budget to finalise the investment in the ‘strengthening Medicare fund’.

Interested in reading more about this? In December, we looked into a recent report which claims ‘Medicare no longer works for patients or GPs.’ You can read more here.

Members, if you’re worried about how this proposed overhaul may affect you, then you’re not alone. We’ll be sure to bring you the latest information as soon as it comes to hand, so stay tuned!

You may like to watch 7NEWS’ coverage below:


well it needs to be done yesterday not next year, But we know it will take at least 10 years so I am not holding my breath....
 
they should have done something sooner they knew from the past few years it wasn't working, so now what about people like myself who need to have operations can't afford private, i am 69 yrs lady and desperately need my catarats done and I am on a waiting list for doctors at 2 hospital that come under my postcode.by the time i get my done now depends on the new medicaire i could be blind or not have the operation.
who can afford private health fund on a pension, as the saying goes rich get richer the poor get poorer
australia is getting like 3rd world country
 
It’s been a long time coming, but the government is now looking into a major Medicare overhaul.

As many of you know firsthand, the current system is largely failing Australians as bulk billing all but disappears and timely appointments are increasingly difficult to book.

The Australian government has recently announced ambitious plans to completely overhaul Medicare, introducing what they are calling a ‘modern’ version of the system that we use today.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up', forcing many Australians to miss out on the vital healthcare they need.

'This has been discussed for many years. We had pilots on it when we were last in government, particularly in the area of diabetes,' Health Minister Mark Butler said.


View attachment 12110
Medicare is long overdue for an overhaul. Image Credit: Shutterstock



'More of the same is simply not going to cut it. Strengthening Medicare means also modernising Medicare,' Mr Butler said.

It is yet to be determined exactly what a modern Medicare will look like, but the government is working on a ‘blended’ primary care delivery system, where nurses and pharmacists will be allowed to take on more roles.

This reform comes after a worrying drop of seven per cent in bulk-billing rates in the past year alone, and patients who are unable to access timely appointments due to understaffed GPs.

The Health Minister went on to explain that the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now 'more than the rebate fee itself'.

And while efforts to reduce wait times have stalled, demand for GPs has skyrocketed.



Emergency department visits have also doubled over the past four years, as a result of a lack of access to GPs, placing even more pressure on an already strained hospital system.

In addition, previously unheard-of wait times for surgery, tests, and scans have become commonplace in public hospitals.

'What this means is that too many Australians simply can’t get the care that they need when and where they need it out in the community, and too many are ending up instead in hospital emergency departments, placing even more pressure on an already very, very stressed hospital system,' Mr Butler said.



Mr Albanese said it risked completely overwhelming the health system.

He also expressed the urgent need to update Medicare, saying the country's primary care system is 'stuck in the 1980s and 1990s' and its systems 'no longer make sense.'

'What we know we need to do is fix primary health care,' he said.


View attachment 12111
Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up'. Image Credit: Shutterstock



At the heart of the government's plan to shake up Medicare is the idea of introducing a ‘blended’ funding model and sharing the load of primary care with other health practitioners.

This would mean expanding the scope of primary care to cover nurses, paramedics and allied health practitioners, who could work in teams to deliver complex care.

The effectiveness of ‘blended’ primary care models has long been discussed, and there were trials conducted when the Labor government was last in power.

In this model, funding is ‘wraparound’ and intended to provide better access to care for those with chronic conditions, or those disadvantaged by the current fee-for-service system which provides inherently unequal access to healthcare services.

By providing a more comprehensive model, the government hopes to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase the availability and quality of primary care, and reduce the pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.



The success of the blended model hinges on having the resources available to build better teams and a more collaborative approach, as well as the ability of the government to deliver on its promise of investment in the system. It remains to be seen what the final recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce contain, and how significant its impact on primary care will be.

'Labor has no higher priority than strengthening Medicare, rebuilding general practice to ensure that Australians get the world-class healthcare they need when and where they need it out in the community.'

Key Takeaways

  • The Australian government is considering a significant overhaul of Medicare, potentially opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists.
  • The need for reform is due to bulk billing rates plummeting by seven per cent in the past year.
  • Patients are struggling to get timely appointments with their GPs due to a slimmer workforce and exploding demand.
  • The government is considering rolling out a ‘blended’ funding system for nurses and allied health practitioners delivering complex care.

But the Opposition’s Health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, has slammed Labor, accusing them of cutting Medicare and reducing access to mental health treatments instead of supporting Australians.

'So far they have cut Medicare and cut access to Medicare-rebated mental health sessions in half from 20 to 10 sessions,' she said.



'The Labor government also promised to have 50 urgent care clinics up and running by July this year - but we still do not know the exact locations of these clinics, bringing to question if they will even be delivered at all.'

'Labor must outline tangible actions and a plan to support our healthcare workers and hospital systems, rather than just making announcements and promises with no details or information,' Senator Ruston said.

In the coming weeks, the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be released. The program will guide decisions that the government needs to take in the coming May budget to finalise the investment in the ‘strengthening Medicare fund’.

Interested in reading more about this? In December, we looked into a recent report which claims ‘Medicare no longer works for patients or GPs.’ You can read more here.

Members, if you’re worried about how this proposed overhaul may affect you, then you’re not alone. We’ll be sure to bring you the latest information as soon as it comes to hand, so stay tuned!

You may like to watch 7NEWS’ coverage below:

 
Why not adopt policies used in other countries. If you are on medication for life just go the pharmacist. If you have blood in your urine go to a pathology provider, get the tests and then go to your GP. If you need a specialist book directly. Why do you need a yearly referral to your specialist for a chronic condition?
The AMA has restrictive trade practices that make unions look benign.
 
My last visit to my doctor on my last pension day was paid for as normal but my rebate still hasn't gone back into my account from Medicare. I really need those $ 39.00 dollars to pay for my medication this week. Come on Labor get your ducks in a row so we feel we voted for the right party.
If you're a pensioner why are you paying a fee at all, you should be fully bulk billed
 
What they need to do is get those that are rorting not only the Medicare system and have been doing so for years, but a lot of other government agencies. If you know someone in the system, anything can be done
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ezzy and Ricci
It’s been a long time coming, but the government is now looking into a major Medicare overhaul.

As many of you know firsthand, the current system is largely failing Australians as bulk billing all but disappears and timely appointments are increasingly difficult to book.

The Australian government has recently announced ambitious plans to completely overhaul Medicare, introducing what they are calling a ‘modern’ version of the system that we use today.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up', forcing many Australians to miss out on the vital healthcare they need.

'This has been discussed for many years. We had pilots on it when we were last in government, particularly in the area of diabetes,' Health Minister Mark Butler said.


View attachment 12110
Medicare is long overdue for an overhaul. Image Credit: Shutterstock



'More of the same is simply not going to cut it. Strengthening Medicare means also modernising Medicare,' Mr Butler said.

It is yet to be determined exactly what a modern Medicare will look like, but the government is working on a ‘blended’ primary care delivery system, where nurses and pharmacists will be allowed to take on more roles.

This reform comes after a worrying drop of seven per cent in bulk-billing rates in the past year alone, and patients who are unable to access timely appointments due to understaffed GPs.

The Health Minister went on to explain that the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now 'more than the rebate fee itself'.

And while efforts to reduce wait times have stalled, demand for GPs has skyrocketed.



Emergency department visits have also doubled over the past four years, as a result of a lack of access to GPs, placing even more pressure on an already strained hospital system.

In addition, previously unheard-of wait times for surgery, tests, and scans have become commonplace in public hospitals.

'What this means is that too many Australians simply can’t get the care that they need when and where they need it out in the community, and too many are ending up instead in hospital emergency departments, placing even more pressure on an already very, very stressed hospital system,' Mr Butler said.



Mr Albanese said it risked completely overwhelming the health system.

He also expressed the urgent need to update Medicare, saying the country's primary care system is 'stuck in the 1980s and 1990s' and its systems 'no longer make sense.'

'What we know we need to do is fix primary health care,' he said.


View attachment 12111
Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up'. Image Credit: Shutterstock



At the heart of the government's plan to shake up Medicare is the idea of introducing a ‘blended’ funding model and sharing the load of primary care with other health practitioners.

This would mean expanding the scope of primary care to cover nurses, paramedics and allied health practitioners, who could work in teams to deliver complex care.

The effectiveness of ‘blended’ primary care models has long been discussed, and there were trials conducted when the Labor government was last in power.

In this model, funding is ‘wraparound’ and intended to provide better access to care for those with chronic conditions, or those disadvantaged by the current fee-for-service system which provides inherently unequal access to healthcare services.

By providing a more comprehensive model, the government hopes to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase the availability and quality of primary care, and reduce the pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.



The success of the blended model hinges on having the resources available to build better teams and a more collaborative approach, as well as the ability of the government to deliver on its promise of investment in the system. It remains to be seen what the final recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce contain, and how significant its impact on primary care will be.

'Labor has no higher priority than strengthening Medicare, rebuilding general practice to ensure that Australians get the world-class healthcare they need when and where they need it out in the community.'

Key Takeaways

  • The Australian government is considering a significant overhaul of Medicare, potentially opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists.
  • The need for reform is due to bulk billing rates plummeting by seven per cent in the past year.
  • Patients are struggling to get timely appointments with their GPs due to a slimmer workforce and exploding demand.
  • The government is considering rolling out a ‘blended’ funding system for nurses and allied health practitioners delivering complex care.

But the Opposition’s Health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, has slammed Labor, accusing them of cutting Medicare and reducing access to mental health treatments instead of supporting Australians.

'So far they have cut Medicare and cut access to Medicare-rebated mental health sessions in half from 20 to 10 sessions,' she said.



'The Labor government also promised to have 50 urgent care clinics up and running by July this year - but we still do not know the exact locations of these clinics, bringing to question if they will even be delivered at all.'

'Labor must outline tangible actions and a plan to support our healthcare workers and hospital systems, rather than just making announcements and promises with no details or information,' Senator Ruston said.

In the coming weeks, the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be released. The program will guide decisions that the government needs to take in the coming May budget to finalise the investment in the ‘strengthening Medicare fund’.

Interested in reading more about this? In December, we looked into a recent report which claims ‘Medicare no longer works for patients or GPs.’ You can read more here.

Members, if you’re worried about how this proposed overhaul may affect you, then you’re not alone. We’ll be sure to bring you the latest information as soon as it comes to hand, so stay tuned!

You may like to watch 7NEWS’ coverage below:


This isn't directly related to Medicare, however it is a medical/health issue:
I have been diagnosed with Lipodema which requires very expensive surgery. Although my private health fund accepts that this procedure falls under the clinical category of plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary), which is a category accessible on my level of cover, the procedure won't be covered as it's being completed as outpatient service. When the hospitals are under so much pressure, it seems ludicrous that the Govt wouldn't encourage the use of other available facilities.
 
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Ezzy and Ricci
My last visit to my doctor on my last pension day was paid for as normal but my rebate still hasn't gone back into my account from Medicare. I really need those $ 39.00 dollars to pay for my medication this week. Come on Labor get your ducks in a row so we feel we voted for the right party.
 
The fact that Australians have voted for the LNP for the last 12 or so years and for umpteen years before Kevin 007 indicates that Australians don't think health-care is important, as nor does the LNP otherwise we wouldn't have the problems we have now in the Public Health system.A key step would be opening university medical schools to a greater number of students and also making more positions available in our Public Hospitals for training from Intern to Registrar level. Then ultimately there would be a greater number of GPS working in the community. Or perhaps we could import a couple of thousand Cuban doctors to make up the shortfall; maybe Cuba could help organise it as one of Cuba's Foreign Aid projects.............
 
Last edited:
After reading all the replies I feel I am in the majority. When we had children we had HBF to help and paid the doctor then waited for the refund which was not the full amount. We had to budget our low wage for other household expenses. Along came medicare and we continued on with paying the doctor as the surgery did not do bulk billing. Eventually we had to use a diffferent surgery as we could not get to see our usual doctor and it was urgent we tried another and they bulk billed, we found them just as good so after a little while we questioned the need for the HBF. Our surgery now does not bulk bill for everyone but I know that the doctors only receive a paltry sum of less than $40 per visit so I would not quibble at paying a fee . Yes, I need regular medication but would prefer my doctor to monitor the type of script I needed. I am a full old age pensioner as well
 
When you were employed a certain percentage of your earnings went into a fund to pay for Medicare originally it was supposed to be paid weekly but ended up being paid as a percentage paid at the end of the with your income tax, Is this still in effect!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci
After reading all the replies I feel I am in the majority. When we had children we had HBF to help and paid the doctor then waited for the refund which was not the full amount. We had to budget our low wage for other household expenses. Along came medicare and we continued on with paying the doctor as the surgery did not do bulk billing. Eventually we had to use a diffferent surgery as we could not get to see our usual doctor and it was urgent we tried another and they bulk billed, we found them just as good so after a little while we questioned the need for the HBF. Our surgery now does not bulk bill for everyone but I know that the doctors only receive a paltry sum of less than $40 per visit so I would not quibble at paying a fee . Yes, I need regular medication but would prefer my doctor to monitor the type of script I needed. I am a full old age pensioner as well
After reading all the replies I feel I am in the majority. When we had children we had HBF to help and paid the doctor then waited for the refund which was not the full amount. We had to budget our low wage for other household expenses. Along came medicare and we continued on with paying the doctor as the surgery did not do bulk billing. Eventually we had to use a diffferent surgery as we could not get to see our usual doctor and it was urgent we tried another and they bulk billed, we found them just as good so after a little while we questioned the need for the HBF. Our surgery now does not bulk bill for everyone but I know that the doctors only receive a paltry sum of less than $40 per visit so I would not quibble at paying a fee . Yes, I need regular medication but would prefer my doctor to monitor the type of script I needed. I am a full old age pensioner as well
Every time another doctor fills my prescriptions he arbitrarily alters the milligram amount. Why I have no idea unless he has a God Complex. Which I found annoying picking them up and having about said prescriptions Funnily enough the ones that do this are Asian doctors?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricci and Ezzy
A whole healthcare over haul is way over due .
We have private health insurance which I would drop, except the wife wants to keep it for peace of mind.
What I don't understand is we are paying so much for health cover yet we can only claim for doctors or specialist if we were in hospital.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Ricci
It’s been a long time coming, but the government is now looking into a major Medicare overhaul.

As many of you know firsthand, the current system is largely failing Australians as bulk billing all but disappears and timely appointments are increasingly difficult to book.

The Australian government has recently announced ambitious plans to completely overhaul Medicare, introducing what they are calling a ‘modern’ version of the system that we use today.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up', forcing many Australians to miss out on the vital healthcare they need.

'This has been discussed for many years. We had pilots on it when we were last in government, particularly in the area of diabetes,' Health Minister Mark Butler said.


View attachment 12110
Medicare is long overdue for an overhaul. Image Credit: Shutterstock



'More of the same is simply not going to cut it. Strengthening Medicare means also modernising Medicare,' Mr Butler said.

It is yet to be determined exactly what a modern Medicare will look like, but the government is working on a ‘blended’ primary care delivery system, where nurses and pharmacists will be allowed to take on more roles.

This reform comes after a worrying drop of seven per cent in bulk-billing rates in the past year alone, and patients who are unable to access timely appointments due to understaffed GPs.

The Health Minister went on to explain that the average gap fee for a standard GP consult is now 'more than the rebate fee itself'.

And while efforts to reduce wait times have stalled, demand for GPs has skyrocketed.



Emergency department visits have also doubled over the past four years, as a result of a lack of access to GPs, placing even more pressure on an already strained hospital system.

In addition, previously unheard-of wait times for surgery, tests, and scans have become commonplace in public hospitals.

'What this means is that too many Australians simply can’t get the care that they need when and where they need it out in the community, and too many are ending up instead in hospital emergency departments, placing even more pressure on an already very, very stressed hospital system,' Mr Butler said.



Mr Albanese said it risked completely overwhelming the health system.

He also expressed the urgent need to update Medicare, saying the country's primary care system is 'stuck in the 1980s and 1990s' and its systems 'no longer make sense.'

'What we know we need to do is fix primary health care,' he said.


View attachment 12111
Anthony Albanese said the Medicare system his government had inherited was 'struggling to keep up'. Image Credit: Shutterstock



At the heart of the government's plan to shake up Medicare is the idea of introducing a ‘blended’ funding model and sharing the load of primary care with other health practitioners.

This would mean expanding the scope of primary care to cover nurses, paramedics and allied health practitioners, who could work in teams to deliver complex care.

The effectiveness of ‘blended’ primary care models has long been discussed, and there were trials conducted when the Labor government was last in power.

In this model, funding is ‘wraparound’ and intended to provide better access to care for those with chronic conditions, or those disadvantaged by the current fee-for-service system which provides inherently unequal access to healthcare services.

By providing a more comprehensive model, the government hopes to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase the availability and quality of primary care, and reduce the pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.



The success of the blended model hinges on having the resources available to build better teams and a more collaborative approach, as well as the ability of the government to deliver on its promise of investment in the system. It remains to be seen what the final recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce contain, and how significant its impact on primary care will be.

'Labor has no higher priority than strengthening Medicare, rebuilding general practice to ensure that Australians get the world-class healthcare they need when and where they need it out in the community.'

Key Takeaways

  • The Australian government is considering a significant overhaul of Medicare, potentially opening up primary care delivery to nurses and pharmacists.
  • The need for reform is due to bulk billing rates plummeting by seven per cent in the past year.
  • Patients are struggling to get timely appointments with their GPs due to a slimmer workforce and exploding demand.
  • The government is considering rolling out a ‘blended’ funding system for nurses and allied health practitioners delivering complex care.

But the Opposition’s Health spokeswoman, Anne Ruston, has slammed Labor, accusing them of cutting Medicare and reducing access to mental health treatments instead of supporting Australians.

'So far they have cut Medicare and cut access to Medicare-rebated mental health sessions in half from 20 to 10 sessions,' she said.



'The Labor government also promised to have 50 urgent care clinics up and running by July this year - but we still do not know the exact locations of these clinics, bringing to question if they will even be delivered at all.'

'Labor must outline tangible actions and a plan to support our healthcare workers and hospital systems, rather than just making announcements and promises with no details or information,' Senator Ruston said.

In the coming weeks, the final report of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce will be released. The program will guide decisions that the government needs to take in the coming May budget to finalise the investment in the ‘strengthening Medicare fund’.

Interested in reading more about this? In December, we looked into a recent report which claims ‘Medicare no longer works for patients or GPs.’ You can read more here.

Members, if you’re worried about how this proposed overhaul may affect you, then you’re not alone. We’ll be sure to bring you the latest information as soon as it comes to hand, so stay tuned!

You may like to watch 7NEWS’ coverage below:


This should have then Labour's greatest triumph. However, since its inception 40 years ago successive governments have failed to keep up with the original idea of funding it. Now whether the yearly take of your income tax revenue has been retained for Medicare or has it shaved off to fund some other pet project for dickhead ministers.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Ricci
This should have then Labour's greatest triumph. However, since its inception 40 years ago successive governments have failed to keep up with the original idea of funding it. Now whether the yearly take of your income tax revenue has been retained for Medicare or has it shaved off to fund some other pet project for dickhead ministers.
Despite everybody knowing that the costs of everything has gone up year on year. The amount of Medicare levy was constant for several years and only recently went up to 2% of taxable income.
 
If you're a pensioner why are you paying a fee at all, you should be fully bulk billed
Not at my medical centre any more. I agreed to pay so I could see my own doctor not some blow-in from another country as all the medical centres around here have, I like the fact that my doctor has dealt with me & my health problems before for at least 2 years & that I don't have to tell each new doctor my health story as this is what happens if you see a different doctor every time you have to make an appointment at the bulk billing doctors in my area.
 
  • Sad
  • Like
Reactions: Vio Kot and Ricci

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else

Latest Articles

  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×