Stroke Foundation has joined other peak health bodies and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in an open letter to Parliament to call on the Australian Government to increase the Medicare rebates for longer (Level C and Level D) GP consultations by 40%.
Whilst we applaud the Albanese's Government's commitment to increase access to bulk billed care for all Australians - issues of access still remain for Australians requiring longer consultations to manage their chronic conditions.
Currently, the per-minute value of Medicare rebates decreases as consultation length increases. In effect, patients who need more time with their GP, often those living with chronic and complex conditions, pay more out of pocket.
At a time when many Australians are facing rising cost-of-living pressures, current Medicare funding structure disproportionately impacts those who require longer appointments to support risk factor management, early detection, and ongoing care.
We strongly believe more sustainable funding for longer GP consultations will:
- Support earlier and more accurate diagnoses
- Reduce avoidable pressure on hospitals
- Strengthen holistic, preventive primary care
- Improve affordability for people living with long-term chronic conditions
Dr Lisa Murphy, CEO of Stroke Foundation says: "With 80% of strokes being preventable, improving the affordability of longer GP consultations will help more Australians detect and manage chronic disease and modifiable risk factors before stroke occurs."
