Australian GP organisations urge telehealth changes and flag AI risk in health incentive bill

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have asked the Australian Government to prepare temporary telehealth flexibilities if the National Fuel Security Plan reaches Level 3. In a letter to Health Minister Mark Butler, they propose raising the threshold for the Medicare telehealth limit from 20 to 50 days while keeping the daily cap of 30 consultations, to ensure patients can still access care during fuel shortages.

Separately, the RACGP warned that the forthcoming Health Legislation Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026 could allow AI‑driven compliance checks that resemble the “Robodebt” system. The college cautioned that inadequate safeguards may lead to inaccurate automated decisions, reduced transparency, and financial strain on general practices. It called for clear human oversight, inflation‑linked payment adjustments, and an expert advisory group to guide implementation.