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Rural Retention Program

The Rural Retention Program (RRP) is an initiative that recognises long-serving general practitioners in rural and remote communities that may experience significant difficulties in retaining general practitioners. Communities in which these doctors work will benefit through improved access to general practice services and continuity of health care.

Eligibility and payment amounts are based on

• the length of service of individual doctors
• the remoteness of the area they are practising in and
• the level of services they provide

The major component of the program is a Central Payments System which recognises general practitioners based on Medicare data on their services in rural and remote locations over a number of years.

The other component of the program is a Flexible Payments System which assists long-serving providers of primary medical care whose services are not adequately reflected using only Medicare data through the Central Payments System.

Payment categories & eligible localities
The General Practitioner Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia (GPARIA) is used to define the locations eligible for assistance under the program.

Advisory body
This group undertakes an advisory role on policy and implementation issues related to the Rural Retention Program.

Program updates
Updates on the program including updates to CPS guidelines and FPS principles.

Review of the Rural Retention Program
Final Report 2006

Statistics
Statistics showing number of doctors and amounts paid (total and by financial year), and CPS and FPS payments and providers by state.