The government will undertake a series of reforms aimed at improving health outcomes and cracking down on business operations, making it more difficult to see junior doctors at home during off-duty hours.
The patient will not be able to book a doctor's visit in advance and will need a qualified GP to check whether the visit is necessary, not convenient.
The changes announced by the federal government are included in a $ four hundred and eight million nine hundred and ninety nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine mid-year budget update.
Health Secretary Greg Hunt said he knows Australians want to see a doctor at home in an emergency, but change is necessary to ensure that patients receive "the best quality of care."
Over the past six years, visits to doctors have increased by 150 percent, raising concerns about the cost of regular care by qualified GP.
"there's no clinical explanation for this growth, it's business model-driven growth, and their advertising selling point is convenience, not medical needs," Hunt said. "changes in policy for off-duty visits mean that doctors can provide the best care for patients, and that off-duty visits are provided by appropriate doctors to those in need of genuine emergency treatment."
Eligible GP and doctors will continue to be paid the highest level of Medicare rates, while junior doctors and interns will be reduced in turn.
"the service policy in remote areas remains the same because Australians in these areas are difficult to see," Hunt said.
The government will impose stricter restrictions on "inappropriate advertising" of off-duty medical services.
Hunt says the savings will be made by users with the medical system.
The Australian Medical Association welcomes.
