The new Minister for Health has rejected last-minute appeals to save the MBS item for GPs to do longer telephone consults, instead deferring a new compliance regime that aims to deter abuse of the remaining phone items.

All the main GP groups had called for the $75.75 item for telephone consults lasting 20 minutes or more to be retained, stressing it was needed to ensure those without access to video — elderly and marginalised patients — could still access care in the context of rising COVID-19 cases.

In May, the item was claimed 109,000 times.

Items for longer and extended video consults were only claimed 26,000 times.