14 May 2010 Federal Budget recognises the central role of general practice
Health was clearly the big winner in this year’s Federal Budget and general practice and primary care received a very significant proportion of the health funds. With more than $2.2 billion investment into general practice and GP related services over 4 years the central role of general practice and primary healthcare in our health system has been confirmed.
The RACGP has long advocated for significant increases in the general practice workforce, stronger teams and better teamwork within general practice, better general practice infrastructure and investment in e-health. This is a good budget for general practice.
The previously announced investment in prevocational ($149.6 million) and vocational GP training places ($344.9 million) over 4 years will contribute to addressing workforce shortages across Australia and are very welcome.
The budget also confirmed annual payments of up to $25 000 per full-time GP for employing registered nurses ($12 500 per GP for employing enrolled nurses) in eligible accredited general practices across Australia with a rural loading based on Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA). There is a cap of five incentives per practice for this the program.
Another important budget element for general practice is that the Federal Government has provided infrastructure grants to assist general practices throughout Australia. The 2010–2011 Budget commits $56.7 million ($355.2 million over 3 years) for general practice and primary healthcare infrastructure grants, including up to $150 000 for practice upgrades, $300 000 for upgrades for practices with extending hours and up to $500 000 for training practices. At this stage, there is a limit on the total number of grants available.
Additional infrastructure for general practice is essential to deliver improved patient access to comprehensive, integrated multidisciplinary care across Australia (including the expansion of the practice nursing workforce) and increases GPs’ capacity to teach the next generation of GPs and other health practitioners.
The College appreciates this direct investment into general practice and will continue to advocate for additional infrastructure grants for general practices in future budgets.
The College particularly welcomes the government’s improved healthcare program for veterans and war widows aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital admissions through a new $152.7 million commitment. This is exactly the type of program that will make a real difference to our patients and includes enrolment with a GP rather than just the practice, and additional support for GPs to deliver the care our patients need in addition to fee-for-service payments. It also provides for funding for our practice nurses or community nurses to visit our patients in their homes.
The government has also committed $185.6 million for the 2010–2011 Budget ($466.7 million over 2 years) to establishing a secure system of patient controlled electronic health records, which will include information regarding medications, test results and immunisations.
Without improvements in e-health and medical information management systems, we will continue to expose patients to unnecessary risks, including adverse events and medication errors. Every person in Australia should receive care that is informed by an electronic health summary. This investment will improve patient health outcomes. The Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010 is still to pass the Senate and this legislation underpins better medical information management.
The 2010–2011 Budget also includes $14.0 million ($416.8 million over 4 years) to establish a nationwide network of primary health care organisations, to be known as ‘Medicare Locals’. These primary care organisations, among other roles, will coordinate the expansion of access to after hours GP services, which will be linked to a new 24 hour national telephone based service.
The College will continue to work with the Australian Government to ensure investments in general practice meet the needs of our communities. A document for our members detailing the Federal Budget investment in general practice is available at www.racgp.org.au/healthreform. The College has also issued a media release in response to this year’s budget. The media release is available at www.racgp.org.au/media2010. The budget papers are available at www.health.gov.au.
M5 Project - RACGP men's health initiative helping men to help themselves
M5 encourages men and those who care about them to recognise the importance of men forming an ongoing relationship with a GP.
