MBS telehealth items will be restricted to GP practices with an existing relationship with the patient, starting 20 July, the Federal Government has announced.  

The change – demanded by the RACGP and AMA to preserve continuity of care – will apply everywhere except Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, the two areas in Victoria currently under stay-at-home orders.  

The definition of a relationship will be having seen the same GP, or a GP at the same practice, face-to-face in the last 12 months before the telehealth consultation takes place.

The restrictions will apply to all the temporary GP telehealth items introduced in March under the government’s COVID-19 measures.