Raise the 30/20 Medicare telephone rule to 30/50 if petrol crisis worsens, doctors tell govt
There has been no indication that Australia will move to level 3 of the National Fuel Security Plan, but the medical groups say now is the time to prepare.
Australia must prepare to soften Medicare’s 30/20 rule if petrol shortages drive up demand for telehealth consults, say doctors’ groups.
Currently, doctors who claim services for 30 or more telephone consults on 20 days with a rolling 12-month period are automatically referred to the Professional Services Review (PSR).
But as fighting in the Middle East continues, there is a chance Australia could enter level 3 of its National Fuel Security Plan.
If that were to happen, the AMA and the RACGP have told the Federal Government it should be ready to move to a 30/50 limit, where doctors would have to reach the 30-consult threshold on 50 days to trigger referral.
