The decision to scrap Medicare funding for GP telephone consults lasting longer than 20 minutes was not evidence-based and disproportionately punished poorer patients, researchers have concluded.  

The MBS item for longer phone consults was removed in July last year, although a new telephone item for over-the-phone assessment of COVID-19 antiviral eligibility was subsequently added, with the same rebate.

But in an MJA perspective last week, health researchers from Deakin University concluded: “Australia needs long telephone consultations”.  

“The removal of telephone consultations potentially disadvantages groups of patients who tend to have higher healthcare needs, such as those from rural and regional areas, those facing socioeconomic disadvantage, older Australians, and some minority or priority groups,” they wrote.