Medicare task force to reveal plan for new GP consultation items next year
The AMA says there should be seven time-tiered GP consultation items.
The Federal Government will likely reveal a draft of new time-tiered Medicare items for GP consultations in early 2026.
The AMA has called for the current five time-tiered items to be split into seven, including a $78.25 item for consultations lasting 16-25 minutes (see the AMA’s proposals below).
The AMA says the items desperately require reform, given they have barely changed in 40 years despite massive shifts in healthcare and the greater focus on chronic disease and mental illness.
Last year, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing established an expert task force, led by Professor of Health Policy Adam Elshaug, to review time-tiered items in primary care.
