New Medicare rules come into effect on 1 July 2022

Latest update on 04 Jul 2022: Health Minister Mark Butler has since announced the deferral of the 30/20 phone consultation rule for at least three months due to the current high level of respiratory illness in the community.

After initially being deferred from a proposed start date of 1 January 2022, the 30/20 phone consultation rule is scheduled to take effect from 1 July 2022.

The new rule applies to general practitioners, other medical practitioners in general practice, and consultant physicians.

According to the Department of Health, “under these new arrangements, a consultant physician or GP who provides 30 or more phone attendances on each of 20 or more days in a 12-month period would be referred to the Professional Services Review.”

In addition, the 80/20 rule is being expanded to include telephone and video services in the prescribed pattern of practice for general practitioners.

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