RACGP urges changes to Support at Home program to strengthen GP involvement
03 Aug 2026
The RACGP says older people receiving care at home do not receive the same level of GP support funding as those living in residential aged care. According to the college, better support for GPs could help more older Australians remain healthy at home and reduce the need for residential aged care.
The submission also raises concerns about long wait times for assessments, saying delays can leave patients without the support they need. During this period, GPs are often responsible for managing patients while they wait for funding decisions and services.
Another key concern is that the program does not always recognise the clinical judgement of GPs. The RACGP says this can result in extra assessments that could be avoided.
One example involves dementia assessments. The college says a GP's diagnosis of dementia is not currently accepted as a confirmed diagnosis within the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT). As a result, some patients must be referred to neurologists or geriatricians for additional confirmation before they can access appropriate support.
The RACGP also highlights challenges for people receiving palliative care through the End-of-Life Pathway. It says many eligible patients have difficulty travelling for assessments and that home visits are often the most suitable option. However, the current Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) funding for these visits is not considered adequate.
While telehealth can support some consultations, the college says it cannot replace face-to-face assessments when patients have complex care needs. It also notes that GP home visits have declined over recent years.
The submission further states that hardship provisions within the Support at Home program are not widely understood. For those who apply, the process is described as difficult, with low success rates.
Among its 13 recommendations, the RACGP is calling for dementia diagnoses made by GPs to be recognised within the assessment process. It also wants providers to communicate more closely with a patient's regular GP by sharing care plans, assessment outcomes and updates when a patient's condition or services change.
The college also recommends faster reassessments when a patient's health changes quickly. It says decisions about patient co-contributions should consider clinical needs, based on advice from the patient's GP-led multidisciplinary care team, rather than relying only on the type of service provided.
In addition, the RACGP is calling for increased Medicare funding for GP consultations lasting longer than 20 minutes to better support older patients with complex health needs.
The Support at Home program began on 1 November, replacing the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Program. A Senate inquiry into the program is underway, with the Community Affairs References Committee expected to deliver its report on 24 November.
RACGP urges changes to Support at Home program to strengthen GP involvement
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).