Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Melissa Davey Medical editor

Higher Medicare rebates will not cure broken system that rewards ‘speed, not need’, report says

A medical clinic in Sydney
An overhaul of Australia’s ‘outdated’ healthcare system is needed to better manage rising rates of chronic and complex disease, the Grattan Institute says. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

While doctors have called for higher Medicare rebates to meet the rising cost of providing care, a new report from the thinktank the Grattan Institute argues that GPs have “steady profit margins” and that more drastic measures are needed to preserve Medicare.

General practices need to be overhauled to employ a team of health workers including physiotherapists and nurses to better manage rising rates of chronic and complex disease, the report led by Grattan health and aged care program director, Peter Breadon, said.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.