CONCERNS over potential outbreaks for new and more transmissible variants of COVID-19 are prompting calls from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for telehealth provisions to be extended beyond 31 Mar.
AMA National President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said the organisation had written to Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, calling on the Federal Government to allow for telehealth consultations to be claimed under Medicare until the end of the year.
"The current uncertainty over the future of temporary COVID-19 Medicare telehealth items means that patients and practices can't plan consultations beyond the end of this month, even though we are still in the middle of the pandemic," he said.
"With the emergence of new and more transmissible COVID-19 variants, the community continues to live with the ever-present threat of tightened restrictions and lockdowns.
"For medical practices to be able to continue to deliver services to patients when these happen, telehealth remains an essential part of practice.
"While the level of community transmission has been at or around zero for some months and the vaccine rollout has commenced, the pandemic is far from over and we cannot become complacent.
"We must continue to plan for the worst and ensure that continuity of care can be maintained for patients.
"Temporary Medicare telehealth items have supported the provision of care during these very difficult times and contributed to efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
"Telehealth has been embraced by doctors and the public alike.
"Telehealth remains fundamental to our national efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and ending the temporary arrangements in a couple of weeks would be premature.
"The telehealth arrangements also ensure that patients who are self-isolating can still access care.
"The AMA has been in discussions with the Department of Health about a long-term plan for telehealth, and we know that the Government is committed to making it a permanent feature of our health system.
"However, in the short-term, we need a telehealth framework that can operate in the context of a pandemic response."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Mar 21
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