Labor pledges video-consult rebates

Beverley Head
Monday, 16 August 2010 16:43

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

After years of inaction Labor has pledged to modernise the healthcare system if re-elected on Saturday, and allow doctors holding video consultations with patients to make a Medicare claim for the service for the first time. The move was announced today as part of a package of healthcare reforms worth $392.3 million unveiled by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

Despite ballooning skills shortages in rural and remote Australia there has previously been no Medicare claim number available for videoconference based medical consultations. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners which along with other health professionals has been lobbying successive Governments for this type of reform for years, today welcomed the initiative.

RACGP President Dr Chris Mitchell said the organisation would like more detail, but was broadly supportive of the plans unveiled today.

In a statement Dr Mitchell said; 'Without greater use of e-health and improvements in medical information management systems, we will continue to expose our patients to unnecessary risks, including adverse events and medication errors as well as inefficiency.

'With around 115 million GP consultations taking place annually and computers now being used by 98 percent of GPs for clinical purposes, general practice is in an ideal position to be at the forefront of e-health,' he said. 

Labor's proposal unveiled today would allow up to half a million online consultations across a range of specialties which it claims will cost $250.5 million over four years. In addition it promised $56.8 million worth of financial incentives for GPs and specialists to deliver services online.

In February this year David Ryan, executive officer of the Grampians Rural Health Alliance (GRHA) described the lack of a Medicare claim number for videoconference based consultations as; 'Far and away the biggest impediment in moving the technology out of the hospital's four walls.'