RACGP and AMA call for temporary telehealth flexibility during fuel crisis
Joint release, RACGP & AMA
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have jointly called on the Australian Government to prepare temporary changes to Medicare telehealth servicing limits if Australia moves to Level 3 of the National Fuel Security Plan.
In a letter to Health, Disability and Ageing Minister Mark Butler, the two peak medical organisations urged the Government to implement a temporary amendment to a rule limiting the number of telehealth consultations GPs can do in a year, to ensure patients can continue accessing care if fuel shortages significantly disrupt travel and face-to-face consultations.
Under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) 30/20 prescribed pattern of service rule, practitioners can trigger regulatory scrutiny if they provide 30 or more relevant telephone consultations on 20 or more days within a rolling 12-month period.
The RACGP and AMA have recommended retaining the existing limit of 30 telephone consultations per day while increasing the 20-day threshold to 50 days during any period when Level 3 of the National Fuel Security Plan is activated.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said continuity of care must remain the priority during any prolonged fuel disruption.
“General practices are the front door of Australia's healthcare system and patients must be able to access their GP when they need care,” he said.
“If fuel supply constraints make travel more difficult for patients and healthcare professionals, telehealth will play a critical role in maintaining access to care.
“We are asking the Government to plan ahead now so that regulatory settings don't inadvertently limit access to essential healthcare during a national emergency.”
AMA Federal President Dr Danielle McMullen said proactive action would provide certainty to doctors and patients during a period of significant disruption.
“Australia's doctors need confidence that they can continue caring for patients without unnecessary regulatory barriers if fuel shortages begin affecting travel and access to healthcare,” she said.
“Telehealth is a proven tool that helps maintain continuity of care during times of disruption, particularly for people with chronic conditions, vulnerable patients and those living in areas where travel may be more challenging.
“This is a sensible, temporary contingency measure that would only apply if the National Fuel Security Plan reaches Level 3. Preparing those arrangements now will ensure the health system can respond quickly if circumstances deteriorate.”
The RACGP and AMA noted that national health authorities have encouraged healthcare practitioners to consider telehealth where appropriate during the current fuel crisis.
The organisations said temporary changes to the 30/20 rule would support those efforts by ensuring Medicare settings align with broader measures designed to maintain healthcare access and system resilience.
The RACGP and AMA look forward to working with the Government to ensure Australians can continue to access high-quality primary care throughout any escalation of fuel supply disruptions.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the voice of general practitioners (GPs) in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, we’ve supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.
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Contact details:
Spokespeople are available for interviews:
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