?Appalling? Medicare telehealth cuts must be delayed to protect vulnerable amid Covid surge, doctors urge

Leading health bodies are urging the federal government to defer "mayhem" changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth arrangements that would hit vulnerable patients as Covid cases surge.

The changes, due to come into effect on 1 January, will restrict phone consultations for a long list of specialist items in favour of video conferencing or face-to-face appointments.

The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) president and medical oncologist, Prof Fran Boyle, said the timing of the changes was "appalling" considering the dramatic increases in Covid cases across the nation.

She said the changes to MBS item numbers, intended to help people with cancer and other illnesses, would limit access to care for vulnerable demographics, particularly in remote areas.

Telehealth services were dramatically expanded as a temporary Covid measure in March last year, to reduce community transmission and protect patients and health care providers.

Pre-Covid, telehealth was used in a limited way for people living in rural and remote areas to access specialists via video conferencing facilities at health centres.

On 13 December, the Department of Health announced $106m would be provided over four years to support continuing telehealth services as a permanent fixture in the Australian health system, a move broadly welcomed by health bodies.