Referral Changes Must Protect Coordinated Patient Care
17 Mar 2026
The consultation by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing looks at how referrals work between GPs and specialists, as well as between different specialists.
In its submission, the AMA said the current system, while not perfect, generally supports safe and appropriate care for patients. However, it believes some targeted changes could improve access.
One key recommendation is to fix current rules under the National Health Reform Agreement, which prevent referrals from public hospital emergency departments being used for private specialist Medicare billing. The AMA says changing this would reduce delays, cut duplication, and improve fairness for patients.
The AMA has raised concerns about proposals to extend GP referral validity beyond the current 12-month period or introduce indefinite referrals. It says regular contact with a GP is important to maintain safe, coordinated care, especially for patients with chronic or complex conditions or those seeing multiple specialists.
The submission also highlights ongoing digital challenges, including limited access to My Health Record and unreliable secure messaging systems. Without improvements, longer referral periods could weaken communication between healthcare providers and increase risks for patients.
The AMA supports steps to improve transparency and patient access to information, such as standardising referral details and ensuring patients receive copies of their referrals and specialist reports.
Overall, the AMA says reforms should focus on better coordination, faster access to care, and stronger patient safety.
https://www.ama.com.au/
Source: Australian Medical Association