The 2020-21 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook was released on 17 December builds on the Economic Recovery Plan of the Federal Government.
Among the major announcements for the general practice is the additional General Practice Incentive Funds that cost $4 million investment. It is targeted to attract and retain GPs in Tasmania, South Perth, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network regions.
Moreover, the role of the Practitioner Review Program and Professional Services Review will be expanded on the premise of improving the integrity of Medicare payments which will include telehealth items. This development is expected to save $157.2 million over the course of 4 years.
Aged care
The Government committed $146.5 million in the next four years to deal with the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety report on COVID-19.
This will include an additional $63.3 million for additional allied and mental health services for aged care residents in facilities. Moreover, an additional $57.8 million allotted to increase the range of aged care services under Commonwealth funding to improve infection prevention and control activities; another $10.8 million will be provided for the next four years to implement a serious incident response scheme; $8.2 million for the operation extension of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, and; $6.3 million for the temporary suspension of reduction in the subsidy payment for aged care residents for hospitalisation coverage.
Lastly, older Australians can stay at home longer as the Government will provide $850.8 million in funding for the release of 10,000 home care packages over the next four years.
Access to affordable medicines
The Government will provide a budget amounting to $682.6 million for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS), and the Stoma Appliance Scheme. This will expand the access of Australians to medicines that are included in the listings.
COVID-19
To ensure access to the existing COVID-19 services, diagnostic imaging equipment shall be maintained for the next 12 months.
Additional investment to combat the threats of COVID-19 is also in place which amounts to $1.5 billion over the next two years. This will secure additional doses of vaccines for the Government.
The funding is also expected to ensure the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Task Force's program on clinical guidelines for health professionals regarding COVID-19 treatments.
Moreover, the Australian Government will be contributing $500 million to the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases over the next three years.
Primary Health Care 10-year Plan
A RACGP spokesperson affirmed the positive effects of the next Federal Budget for GPs considering the steps made by the government to materialise the Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan.
Throughout 2020, several consultations were conducted by the government with medical bodies including RACGP to determine how such a program shall unfold. The Department of Health closely coordinated with concerned bodies to structure the plan for its implementation.
