Default length of all GP referrals should be several years or indefinite, health department says
Experts say the current system was built for acute illnesses, not chronic conditions.
Health officials have proposed extending the default referral period from 12 months to several years or even making indefinite referrals standard.
The draft plan reflects the Federal Government’s desire to clamp down on non-GP specialists who bill Medicare’s better-funded items for initial attendances whenever a referral is renewed.
The current default time limit can also mean unnecessary out-of-pocket costs as patients renew referrals, according to a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing consultation paper published last month.
The paper also suggests extending the strict time limit on specialist-to-specialist referrals, currently capped at three months.
