The Australian government is restoring its subsidy for bulk-billed video telehealth psychiatry consultations through a A$47.7 million ($30 million) investment in the October budget.

Starting this November, people living in rural and regional areas and other eligible patients can once again access free video consultations for mental health. 

This comes as the latest funding will restore 50% fee loading to bulk billed Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) psychiatry services delivered by video telehealth.

WHY IT MATTERS

Rural and regional Australia posts higher rates of mental health-related hospitalisation and suicide than urban areas. Many indigenous people living there also experience higher rates of psychiatric morbidities, such as depression and post-traumatic disorders. And yet, these areas have a shortage of health services of all kinds, especially psychiatric care.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

To recall, the previous government ended the support for some 128 telehealth MBS items, including mental health consultations via video for rural communities.   

This cut has forced many patients to pay gap fees or give up on treatment while some psychiatrists have ceased providing services in these areas.

"These services should never have been removed – it has had a detrimental impact on the mental health of many people in regional areas, so I am delighted to see that support made available once more," said Fiona Phillips, Parliament member for Gilmore. 

"Our rural and regional communities have endured drought, bushfires, floods and the impacts of COVID-19 in recent years – a perfect storm of factors that have taken a significant toll on people’s mental health," added Health Minister Mark Butler.

Reinstating this Medicare item, he said, is expected to support 410,000 consultations over four years or 543,000 consultations over five years.

In other news, confirmed COVID-19 patients in the country will continue to access MBS-subsidised telehealth consultations with any GPs until the end of the year, the Department of Health and Aged Care recently announced. The support is supposed to cease by the end of October.