Ageing Australia congratulates Federal Health, Disability and Ageing Minister Mark Butler for responding to providers’ concerns that changes to bulk billing for medical appointments would have seen GPs stop supporting aged care residents.
Ageing Australia has been working with Minister Butler and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for an urgent fix for this issue with the changes originally due to come into place on 1 July and to ensure continued access to GP services in aged care.
“We have been focused on ensuring all aged care residents can continue to access bulk-billed appointments with GPs, even if they are unable to physically sign agreements or lack the capacity to provide documented consent for every individual service,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“We’ve been working intensively with Government on this issue over the past month to find a sensible solution that supports older people in care. To their credit, they have listened to our concerns and acted decisively.”
“Requiring documented consent for each GP visit – including telehealth consultations – is completely impractical for many aged care residents.”
“Access to doctors should be as easy as possible for older people, and any barriers to that access should be avoided at all costs. The changes announced today are a sensible fix to ensure continuity of care for older people.”
“This decision shows what can be achieved when the sector and Government work together to find solutions.”
Changes to the Assignment of Benefits process announced today include:
• Maintaining verbal assignment of benefit for all bulk billed patients for a 12-month transition period, to avoid the need for a physical signature to be provided for each appointment.
• Fast-tracking amendments to enable residents to make an enduring assignment of benefit for ongoing GP bulk billed services, either directly or through a person acting on their behalf.
• Allowing aged care residents to make multiple enduring agreements with different practitioners according to their needs and wishes.
