Friday, 19 June 2026
Medicare benefit changes delayed, Workforce crisis needs sustainable, Melbourne GPs needed for Street Side
- 01
Delay in Medicare Assignment of Benefit Changes Announced
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has confirmed that verbal consent for bulk billing will be acceptable for the next 12 months, following significant adjustments to the upcoming Medicare assignment of benefit rules. Originally set to take effect on 1 July, the enduring assignment of benefit provisions will now commence in July 2026 instead of April 2027. The changes aim to alleviate administrative burdens for healthcare providers and patients, particularly in aged care and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Stakeholder advocacy played a crucial role in prompting these adjustments, allowing GPs more time to adapt to the new requirements.
- 02
GPRA warns against reliance on training numbers to fix workforce crisis
General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) cautions that merely increasing training places will not resolve the medical workforce crisis in Australia. The organisation highlights the need to address the reasons why doctors leave underserved communities, as new data indicates a significant decline in the transition rate from junior doctor to specialist training. A report from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing predicts a shortfall of over 12,800 full-time equivalent GP and non-specialist doctors by 2048. The GPRA emphasises that sustainable solutions must focus on workplace conditions and support for doctors, rather than just numerical targets.
- 03
Street Side Medics seeks Melbourne GPs amid rising demand
Street Side Medics has issued an urgent call for more Melbourne GPs to volunteer at its Bourke Street clinic, citing increased patient demand and winter illnesses. The not-for-profit service, which provides free primary healthcare from medical vans, currently has about four GPs supporting the clinic and aims to recruit additional doctors to meet the growing need. The clinic operates every Thursday night and requires a minimum commitment of just two hours a month from volunteers. Street Side Medics focuses on providing healthcare to vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness, and aims to ensure consistent coverage at its clinics.
- 04
Healthcare Alliance Calls for Caution on Pharmacy Prescribing
A coalition of healthcare organisations, including the RACGP and AMA, has urged caution regarding the expansion of pharmacist-led prescribing in an open letter to the Pharmacy Board of Australia and health ministers. They emphasised that patient safety should be the primary concern in discussions about scope of practice. The letter highlighted the need for continuity and accountability in care, especially for older Australians and those with complex health needs. The signatories acknowledged the importance of expanding access to care but insisted that safety systems must be established before any role expansions occur.
- 05
Australia could implement predictive prevention platform in nine months
Dr John Halamka, president of the Mayo Clinic Platform, announced that Australia could deploy a population-scale predictive prevention platform within nine months, contingent on health organisations standardising their data. Speaking at the Health Services Daily and The Medical Republic Prevention Summit, he noted that the primary barrier to implementing artificial intelligence for prevention lies in the quality of healthcare data rather than the technology itself. Halamka estimated that preparing data for such a system would cost between US$1 million and US$2 million for organisations with millions of patient records. He highlighted the potential for large-scale data to enhance clinical research and improve preventive care strategies.
- 06
Swedish study finds no link between cats and childhood asthma
A large Swedish study has found no evidence that pet cats worsen asthma symptoms in children. Researchers followed 30,277 children with asthma and allergies, revealing similar asthma outcomes between those living with cats and those without. The study indicated that moderate-to-severe asthma occurred in 9.6% of cat-exposed children compared to 10.1% of non-exposed children. The findings suggest that blanket recommendations to remove cats from households may not be necessary for all children with asthma and allergies.
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.