Peak body wants GPs included in Fed Govt’s new in-home care model

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called for the Federal Government’s proposed in-home care model to be expanded to include the role of GPs. The peak body for GPs, in a submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care, said the Government’s proposed model is a “missed opportunity” to better integrate GP-led care for older Australians into home care. RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins (pictured) says that the exclusion of GPs from the discussion paper on the proposed home care model is a “significant oversight”, particularly as 30% of the total 141 million Medicare claims for unreferred GP attendances in 2019-20 were for people aged 65 and over – a total of 43 million claims.

“GP-led multidisciplinary care is vital to keeping older people well and in their homes. GPs provide critical services to older patients, including ongoing management of complex and chronic disease, health risk assessments, and preventative care including screening and immunisations. “The research also shows that, for optimal health outcomes, people should see the same GP for most of their care needs. Those who do see the same GP or practice have high continuity of care, better health outcomes and satisfaction, and fewer trips to hospital than those who don’t. “And we know that older Australians are far more likely to report that they have a preferred GP, and their right to see their preferred GP for their care needs to be recognised,” she said.

The Australian Medical Association last month criticised the Government’s “vague” clinical aged care standards.