The Australian government is restoring subsidies for single-billing video telemedicine psychiatric consultations by investing A$47.7 million ($30 million) in the October budget.
Starting this November, rural and rural residents and other eligible patients will once again have access to free video consultations on mental health.
This is because the latest funding restores the 50% fee contribution to consolidated bill Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) psychiatric services provided by video telemedicine.
why it matters
Mental health-related hospitalization and suicide rates are higher in rural and rural Australia than in urban areas. Many indigenous peoples there also have high psychiatric morbidity, such as depression and post-traumatic disorders. Nonetheless, these areas lack medical services of all kinds, especially psychiatric care.
larger context
Remember the previous government Ended support for approximately 128 telemedicine MBS items, including video mental health consultations for rural communities.
This cut has forced many patients to pay gap fees or forgo treatment, and some psychiatrists have stopped offering services in these areas.
Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips said: “These services should never have been removed. I am happy that I became
Health Minister Mark Butler said: “Our rural communities and communities have endured the effects of droughts, wildfires, floods and COVID-19 in recent years. It’s a complete storm of factors that have hit health hard,” he added.
Reinstatement of this Medicare item is expected to support 410,000 calls over four years, or 543,000 calls over five years, he said.
In other news, the country’s confirmed COVID-19 patients will continue to have access to MBS-subsidized telemedicine consultations with general practitioners through the end of the year, the Ministry of Health and Aged Care recently announced. Support is expected to end by the end of October.
