Information about Strengthening Medicare initiatives
17th December 2004
By: ADGP

During the recent election campaign the Australian Government made a number of commitments under Strengthening Medicare that will affect general practitioners.

The following measures will commence on 1 January 2005:

• 100% Medicare rebate for GP services;
• Round-the-Clock Medicare: higher Medicare rebates for after-hours GP services;
• New Medicare item for Pap smears provided by practice nurses on behalf of medical practitioners in rural areas - Item 10998;
• Access to the higher ($7.65) bulk billing incentive for medical practitioners providing after-hours services in eligible areas - Item 10992; and
• After Hours Other Medical Practitioners (OMPs) Program.

The Department of Health and Ageing is writing to general practitioners to explain how these measures will operate.   The mail-out will commence on 17 December 2004, and the same information is also  available on the Department's and the Health Insurance Commission's websites.

A copy of the material being mailed to general GPs is available by clicking on the link below.