30 June 2022

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is urging the federal government to keep specialist telehealth items, especially items by phone, as a permanent feature of the healthcare system to keep underserviced communities and individuals connected to quality healthcare.

The RACP has repeatedly called on the government to retain telehealth by phone as an available method of consultation past today’s 30 June deadline.

RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small says, “We’re approaching the deadline, but there’s still time for the government to make a positive change at the eleventh hour.

“This is about keeping people in our communities connected to medical services where they might face barriers in accessing healthcare. Telehealth helped remove these barriers and gain access to care at a level that wasn’t easily achievable without it.

“If phone telehealth items are not made permanently available under the MBS it will be the elderly, those with less advanced technical knowledge, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, some people living with disability, and people in rural and remote locations who will suffer.

“Phone consultations are preferred by many patients or necessitated by patient-specific circumstances, such as lack of access to quality broadband data, lack of confidence or capability in video software and technology, disability, geographical barriers, and inability to access in-person care.

“Telehealth was a major lifeline to these communities during the pandemic. Taking this option away without providing a viable solution to ensuring their continued access to healthcare will be a wasted opportunity.”

The RACP says that while face-to-face or video consultations are often the first preference, when these are not accessible many patients are at risk of losing access to healthcare altogether.

“Having a choice between quality telehealth, including phone telehealth, and face-to-face consultations widens the breadth of healthcare accessibility to those needing specialist care.

“This is a key opportunity for the government to improve our healthcare system. It must not go to waste.  We call on the Federal Government to engage with us to ensure that our permanent arrangements for telehealth continue to increase access to specialist services for all Australians.” Dr Small says.