New cuts switch off GPs’ specialist links

Geelong has been slapped with another health funding blow, this time to Medicare rebates for a telehealth program.
The program enables doctors to access specialists in major metropolitan hospitals from their GP rooms via the internet.
But $134 million of Federal Government budget cuts last year changed Geelong’s classification to a major city from January 1, eliminating expected regional rebates over four years.
Barwon Medicare Local chief Jason Trethowan said the cuts ruled Geelong patients out of the telehealth program.
Local GPs would now miss out on incentives of up to $6000 to institute the telehealth program into their practices, he said.
“Geelong patients will also miss out on the benefits of specialist consultations without the stress of long trips to Melbourne.
“With broadband speed improving over the coming years, telehealth was going to showcase greater efficiencies and improved access for patients to medical specialist services.
“Plans to develop systems for children to access medical specialists from their GP rooms to Royal Children’s Hospital will now be revisited.”
Mr Trethowan said funding for GP telehealth services to Melbourne’s outer-metropolitan area was also cut, eliminating telehealth consultations between Geelong GPs and Melbourne specialists.
During the first 12 months of the telehealth initiative more than a third of local GPs and specialists conducted a clinical video consultation, he said.
The GPs linked to Geelong-based specialists and also had video consultations with Melbourne-based specialists and Royal Children’s Hospital.
The program cut hit Geelong as it waited for major internet improvements from the arrival of National Broadband Network over the next three ears.
“This is a hit on innovation,” Mr Trethowan said.
“We’re talking about the health system of the future and we’ve lost a bit of traction. The biggest hit is to local paediatricians to consult with the children’s hospital.
“It’s not always easy to get doctors to do something different and we’ve spent a lot of time working with specialist clinics and practices to get it up and running.
“We’re building a culture of online connectivity and trust in the platform and the faster speed available with the NBN was a big selling point.”
Mr Trethowan said Geelong was being “treated like Collins St” as part of a historic inconsistency in government classification of the region.
He hoped the scheme would be restored.
“We’ll keep at it and build up the evidence around the connections and its benefits.”