RACGP urges urgent reform to aged care GP funding
24 Aug 2026
In a new position statement, the RACGP says GPs are not adequately supported for the complex care they provide in residential aged care homes (RACHs) and in the community. It also says some essential GP work, including travel, communication with families and staff, and administrative tasks, often goes unpaid.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said it is increasingly important for older people living with chronic health conditions to have access to a GP who knows their health history and needs.
He said low Medicare rebates, combined with high levels of paperwork, can make it difficult for GPs to provide care in residential aged care.
The RACGP is calling for a substantial increase to the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI). Dr Wright said the current program is too complex and does not provide enough support for the comprehensive care older patients require.
The college is also calling for GP-recorded dementia diagnoses to be recognised across the health system. This would help patients access Support at Home services and dementia medicines.
Other recommendations include:
- Better support for GPs providing multidisciplinary care
- Funding models that recognise high-quality care and unpaid work
- Medicare support for face-to-face and telehealth care coordination
- Greater involvement of allied health professionals and specialists
- Better coordination between aged care and NDIS services
- Improved digital communication between GPs, aged care homes, hospitals and pharmacies
- More initiatives to encourage GPs to work in aged care, particularly in rural areas
- Greater support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in aged care decision-making
The RACGP also highlighted a decline in the number of GPs working in residential aged care. Its 2025 Health of the Nation report found that only 9% of GPs had worked in a residential aged care facility in the previous month, down from 12% in 2017.
The college says stronger general practice involvement could help prevent avoidable hospital admissions and improve health outcomes for older people.
Dr Wright also highlighted the importance of better telehealth funding, particularly as many more older Australians receive care at home than in residential aged care.
RACGP urges urgent reform to aged care GP funding
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) — Sustainable general practice care for older people