Government decision to limit telehealth services will cause vulnerable Australians to suffer, GPs say

Doctors have blasted a government decision not to extend pandemic-related telehealth services that ended on Thursday, saying it will cause Covid patients and those who are vulnerable to suffer.

The decision means that more than 70 different telehealth-related consultations will be cut, including 33 initial and complex specialist items, 40 specialist inpatient items, and GP consultations that last longer than 20 minutes.

Short telehealth consultations with GPs will still be available.

Butler had previously indicated he was considering options for extending the service, but on Thursday said the government would remain firm on the deadline.

Butler said he would defer a range of compliance measures related to telehealth that were also due to come into effect on Friday that refer doctors to the professional services review if they are deemed to be doing too many telehealth consultations.