Telehealth extension supports all doctors to deliver health care to rural and remote communities

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) supports the extension of telehealth item numbers to ensure all doctors are equipped to protect their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’s announcement by the Minister for Health Greg Hunt to extend the MBS telehealth item numbers to enable vulnerable general practitioners to provide telehealth consultations to their patients is timely, according to ACRRM President Dr Ewen McPhee.

The College advocated strongly on behalf of rural and remote General Practitioners to have the telehealth item numbers implemented.

 “In this uncertain time, where there is an extremely high demand for health care services, it is vitally important patients can continue to access their doctor, particularly in rural and remote regions,” ACRRM President Dr McPhee says.

“ACRRM Fellows are highly experienced in delivering telehealth services, and the implementation of these MBS Telehealth items is enabling our most at-risk rural medical practitioners to continue to use their skills and knowledge to continue to provide excellent health care to their communities.”

The telehealth item numbers are available to health care providers who are:

• Aged at least 70 years old
• Indigenous and aged at least 50 years old
• Pregnant
• A parent of a child under 12 months
• Immune compromised
• Have a chronic medical condition that results in increased risk from coronavirus infection.

“Telehealth is as a well-utilised tool to deliver high standards of medical care in rural and remote health care,” Dr McPhee says.  “It is important, as we respond to COVID-19 in our regions, that this is recognised, and all our doctors are remunerated for delivering much-needed health care services.

“We will continue to collaborate with Government and health bodies to ensure best practice expansion of telehealth items for patients, with or without COVID-19."