21 April 2023
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians is calling on the Government to restore long phone-based telehealth items to the MBS as patients in rural and remote areas, elderly populations and people with disabilities now have to deal with yet another barrier to accessing specialist healthcare.
RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small says “It’s been over eight months now since the Federal Government cut phone telehealth items for specialist care – and it’s been our most vulnerable populations who have had to pay the price.”
New research released by Deakin University shows that telehealth via phone is key to bridging inequitable access to healthcare between metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas. This study strengthens the developing evidence in support of the ongoing use of the phone option, especially in the context of ensuring equity and reducing the effects of the digital divide.
“Research shows that telehealth is overwhelmingly well-received by those who use it. At the end of 2022, an Australian Patient’s Association survey of over 11,400 patients found that 57% had a telehealth appointment by phone, 77% were satisfied with their appointment and only 16% of respondents said they prefer a video consultation over a phone consultation.
“Findings from western Victoria suggest long telephone consultations are widely used, while the use of video consultations longer than 20 minutes remains minimal.
“Our most vulnerable populations – the elderly, First Nations people, and those with disability – are most impacted by the cuts to telehealth, particularly because the majority of telehealth consultations were over the phone, and only 3% were video based.
“We’re calling on the Government to restore long telephone items to the MBS because Australians are calling for it.
“We need policymakers to recognise the importance of patient choice in support of person-centred practice. For regional areas in particular, there is a chronic lack of access to specialist health care.
It makes no sense to restrict access even further by refusing to fund long consultations when the available evidence supports their widespread use. Persisting with this approach prioritises short-sighted cost savings over patient health in the long term.
“Video consultations are not currently a viable alternative to telephone for long consultations for a substantial portion of Australians. Older people with mobility barriers or low digital literacy, regions with transport barriers, lower socio-economic regions without resources for travel or information technology, and vast areas without sustainable internet and mobile coverage have been put second and this must change.
“There continue to be barriers to accessing appropriate specialist care in rural and regional areas, as well as across priority populations. Restoring telehealth to the MBS would be a return to a more equitable system of care.
“If the Government are committed to transforming healthcare and improving the health of all Australians – they will restore these vital MBS items which have more than proven their value over the last three years.”