Nurses blame outdated Medicare for restricting skills

Many primary health care nurses say they want to use more of their skills at work. Photo: AAP

A third of Australia’s primary health care nurses say they their skills are being under-utilised, with outdated Medicare billing protocols cited as the reason.

Medicare prevents medical practices claiming payment from the government for most services provided by a nurse unless a GP is present, according to peak body the Australian Primary Health Care Nurse Association (APNA).