Medicare updates to expand GP access in 34 Australian communities

Locations will be classified into one of seven categories according to census data.

Thirty-four communities across Australia will receive increased Medicare support through larger bulk billing incentives or a broader pool of eligible doctors, following an update to classification systems.

The update is based on the Modified Monash Model, which categorises locations from ‘metropolitan’ to ‘regional’, ‘rural, and ‘very remote’ based on census data. Medicare payments and aged care support increase with remoteness under this classification.

The changes will affect locations including Murwillumbah in New South Wales, Maroochydore and Noosa in Queensland, and Mount Barker in South Australia.

The changes will also impact Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status, which determines where overseas-trained doctors can practise.

Regional and rural areas with DPA status can recruit from a larger pool of doctors, as overseas-educated medical professionals must work outside major cities for their first ten years in Australia to provide Medicare services.

The update incorporates the latest census data, which was paused whilst an independent review of the classification system was underway.