COVID-19 telehealth update

The Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, issued a joint press release on 23 March which expands the use of telehealth items during the COVID-19 crisis.

The change will allow all vulnerable general practitioners and other vulnerable health professionals who are currently authorised to use telehealth item numbers, to use telehealth for all consultations with all of their patients.

This includes health care providers who are:

• aged at least 70 years old
• Indigenous and aged at least 50 years old
• pregnant
• a parent of a child under 12 months
• immune compromised
• have a chronic medical condition that results in increased risk from coronavirus infection.

The government is currently working with the AMA, RACGP, ACRRM, and the RDAA to co-design Stage 4 - which will further expand the use of telehealth items.

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This blog contains general information only. We recommend you contact your medical defence organisation or insurer when you require specific advice in relation to medico-legal matters.