The Albanese Government is delivering on a key election commitment to strengthen GP practices across the country, including local practices in Darwin and Palmerston.
The Strengthening Medicare – General Practice (GP) Grants Program will allow all General Practices and eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to expand patient access and improve their services.
After a decade of cuts and neglect from the former government, the Albanese Government is committed to strengthening Medicare and boosting general practice.
The GP Grants will support all general practices and eligible ACCHOs across Australia to make investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works in one or more of the three investment streams below:
- Enhance digital health capability
- Upgrade infection prevention and control arrangements
- Maintain and/or achieve accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practices (5th edition).
Grants will be provided to local practices depending on accredited GP practice size. Smaller practices are eligible for grants of $25,000 or $35,000, and larger practices are eligible for grants of $50,000. GP practices and ACCHOs not currently accredited against the RACGP standards will be eligible for $25,000.
Over the coming weeks, PHNs and NACCHO will be sending letters directly general practices in the Solomon electorate inviting participation in the Grants Program.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“After working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, doctors deserve more than thanks, that’s why we’re giving them the resources to invest in their practices.
"We understand the crucial importance of primary health care provided by GPs. This funding will help improve practices and make sure Australians can access safe, quality and affordable healthcare when and where they need it”.
Quotes attributable to Member for Solomon Luke Gosling:
“Getting access to health care is at the top of the list of concerns when I talk to locals in Darwin and Palmerston.
“This will give a much-needed boost to general practices across the country.
“I’m proud to be part of a government that recognises the hard work of our GPs.”
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Response: |
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1. Why is the government providing these grants to general practices? |
· This investment is part of the Government’s commitment to improving general practice in Australia. · This Program recognises the importance of general practice in providing healthcare for the community and that GPs have experienced significant pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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2. How will the General Practice Grants Program help general practices? |
· The GP Grants Program provides the flexibility for general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to fund activities within the three investment streams to best address their needs. · $220 million will be available in grant funding under the GP Grants Program for general practices and ACCHOs. · Eligible organisations will receive a one-off grant of either $25,000, $35,000 or $50,000 for investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works. · The grants can be used by practices to upgrade IT systems, upskill staff, purchase new equipment and upgrade practices to be more COVIDSafe. |
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3. How will the General Practice Grants Program help patients?
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The Program will improve general practice access and services for all Australians through: · increasing practices’ take-up of contemporary digital health solutions including video telehealth, secure data storage and interoperable software to support seamless, secure communication of patient data. · improving practices’ capacity to treat patients with potentially infectious respiratory diseases. · Increasing quality and safety in general practice, including by helping more practices to become accredited against the RACGP Standards for General Practices.
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4. When does the General Practice Grants Program open and how can general practices apply?
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· The GP Grants Program will open from 21 April 2023. · The program is being implemented in partnership with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), who will administer and manage the GP Grants Program in relation to general practices and ACCHOs, respectively. · PHNs and NACCHO will be sending letters directly to general practices and ACCHOs, inviting their participation in the GP Grants Program. All general practices and ACCHOs should be notified by the end of April. |
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5. How will each general practice’s grant amount be determined?
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· Grant allocation is based on: o accreditation status against the RACGP Standards for General Practices; and o practice size as determined by the Department of Health and Aged Care’s ‘Medicare GP Full Time Equivalent’ (GP FTE) calculation. · The correspondence to be sent by PHNs and NACCHO will advise each practice and ACCHO of the grant amount applicable to them: either $25,000, $35,000, or $50,000. |
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6. What are the different funding tiers?
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· Unaccredited (any Medicare GPFTE): $25,000 · Accredited or registered for accreditation - Less than 7 Medicare GPFTE: $25,000 - From 7 Medicare GPFTE to less than 15 Medicare GPFTE: $35,000 - 15 Medicare GPFTE or more: $50,000 |
