Friday, 26 June 2026
$9M payroll tax savings for GPs, Rural Medicare reform push, Measles outbreak concerns rise
- 01
NSW GPs Benefit from $9 Million Payroll Tax Savings
The NSW state budget revealed that GP practices saved $9 million in payroll tax through the Bulk Billing Support Initiative, which began in 2024. This initiative allows clinics that bulk bill above a certain threshold to claim payroll tax rebates. While there were no changes to payroll tax arrangements, the savings are expected to increase to $10 million in the next financial year. The budget also allocated $71.7 million to assist rural patients with travel costs for non-GP specialist treatment.
- 02
Rural Generalists Call for Medicare Reform to Improve Access
Rural generalists in Australia are urging Medicare to reform its system to allow access to advanced-skill MBS items, which currently limits them to standard consultations. The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) reported slow progress on a proposal submitted to the government a year ago, despite a working group being established. This gap affects various non-surgical advanced skill areas, including paediatrics and mental health, hindering rural GPs from billing at specialist-equivalent rates. The RDAA and ACRRM are advocating for specific MBS item numbers to enhance healthcare delivery in underserved populations and support workforce retention.
- 03
Measles Cases Rise Amid Vaccination Decline and Travel
Australia has reported approximately 112 measles cases in 2026, with NSW Health warning of an outbreak in Sydney's inner city. Experts attribute the rise to increased international travel to Southeast Asia, declining childhood vaccination rates, and under-immunised adults. Vaccination coverage has decreased from 95% in 2020 to about 92.5% in 2026, raising concerns about herd immunity. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance found that vaccine hesitancy and access barriers have contributed to the decline in immunisation rates.
- 04
New guidelines established for delusional infestation treatment
A multinational panel has released best-practice recommendations for delusional infestation (DI), aiming to standardise diagnosis and treatment. The consensus supports antipsychotics as first-line therapy and emphasises collaboration between dermatology and psychiatry. While most experts agree on the need for interdisciplinary approaches, opinions vary on whether to explicitly inform patients of their diagnosis. The findings, published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venerology, highlight the complexities of managing DI and the necessity for further research.
- 05
Study reveals misuse of GLP-1 RAs in eating disorders
Research indicates that individuals with eating disorders misuse glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) at more than double the rate of the general population. A study found that 32.1% of participants with eating disorders reported lifetime use of GLP-1 RAs, with 10.1% admitting to misuse. The misuse includes behaviours such as taking higher doses than prescribed and sharing medications. Experts express concerns that these drugs may exacerbate disordered eating behaviours and call for increased regulation and oversight in prescribing practices.
- 06
Shift from Immunosuppression to Antifibrotics in IPF Treatment
A recent Australian study reveals significant changes in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) over the past decade. The research indicates that the use of antifibrotic therapy has nearly tripled, rising from 23% to 68% between two patient cohorts, while the use of immunosuppressants has decreased markedly. The study, which compared data from 647 patients enrolled between 2012 and 2016 with 852 patients from 2016 to 2023, highlights evolving treatment practices in response to clinical trial outcomes. Researchers emphasise the role of registries in improving quality assurance and benchmarking in IPF management.
MDDR is a news digest for medical professionals. It is not medical advice and should not be relied on for clinical decision-making.