The telehealth change that could put Australia’s most vulnerable at risk

Telehealth has become a permanent part of Australia’s healthcare system, but there are concerns restrictions and limitations which come into effect on January 1 will harm the state’s most vulnerable.

Under the changes, Medicare rebates for phone consultations will be scrapped and a 50 per cent loading for video consultation added.

It’ll cost patients between $30 to $160 extra to attend video consultations or be forced to attend clinics at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising.

Director of Policy, Advocacy and Member Support at the Breast Cancer Network of Australia, Vicki Durston, says it’ll impact the nation’s sickest people.

“We’re really concerned about the speed and timing of these policy changes because … it’s really going to impact the most vulnerable,” she told Shane McInnes, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

“We’re really calling on the government to defer this announcement and consider what the ramifications will be.”

Cancer patients who cannot come into hospital for an appointment will no longer have access to phone consults, and will instead have to use video conferencing.

Ms Durston says that will pose a significant issue for the elderly and people with limited internet access.

“When we look at video conferencing as a medium, it doesn’t provide flexibility for those most vulnerable, so what that means is people who are needing to use the telephone will be impacted and there will be an out of pocket cost,” she said.

Press PLAY below to hear more on the changes to telehealth