Federal Budget touches the edges of rural healthcare reform 

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) acknowledges the Government’s commitment to improve healthcare in rural and remote communities in the 2022 Federal Budget but continues to call for primary healthcare funding reform to support general practice and primary care.  

The College welcomes the government’s commitment to ensure telehealth is permanently accessible, and an investment of $66 million to improve access to life-saving diagnostic imaging by deregulating access to Medicare funded MRI services in rural and remote Australia.  

Targeted funding for COVID-19 supports which will strengthen supply chains for testing and protective equipment for the primary care sector, together with additional recognition through the Practice Incentive Program, demonstrates the significant contribution that the primary care sector has made in the COVID response.  

The College also notes specific investment in programs which will help close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers says the budget addresses some of the issues raised in the College’s pre-budget submission, but more targeted investments in rural-specific solutions are needed. 

“We are encouraged to see the 10-year Stronger Rural Health Strategy remains a focus for the government and that funding announced in the Federal Budget supports those programs,” Dr Chalmers says.  

“An investment of $99.3 million to build training and education opportunities in the regions gives more rural and remote Australians the opportunity to study and train as health professionals in the communities in which they live.   

“These are initiatives the College has advocated for over a number of years.  

“We will continue to call for funding to progress the implementation of the National Rural Generalist Pathway and support Rural Generalist training programs across the nation, as well as for significant primary health care reform more broadly.  

“Rural General Practitioners and Rural Generalists play a vital role in the holistic care of rural and remote communities. However, rural general practices in particular are finding it increasingly difficult to remain economically viable.   

“This needs to be addressed through the reform of primary care funding models, with special consideration of the needs of rural and remote practices and the importance of the services they provide.   

“ACRRM looks forward to working with the Commonwealth to deliver a skilled medical workforce, supported by sustainable practice funding models, to increase access to healthcare in our rural and remote communities and ultimately improve health outcomes, and will now take the time to more thoroughly review the details of the announcements made today,” Dr Chalmers says.