About the review
The review looked to determine:
- whether the Practice Incentives Program and Workforce Incentive Program promote patient-centred multidisciplinary primary care
- ways to design new blended funding models to better meet changing primary care needs, including the growth in complex chronic disease.
An expert advisory panel is oversaw the review, including:
- looking at existing data and evaluation on current general practice incentives
- looking at international evidence on best-practice blended funding models for general practice and primary care
- consulting with:
- individuals
- primary care peak organisation
- primary healthcare providers
- other interested organisations
- researchers.
The Expert Advisory Panel was supported by two additional reviews, including:
- A review by KPMG on the effectiveness of the current Practice Incentives Program and Workforce Incentive Program.
- KPMG Effectiveness Review of General Practice Incentives
- An international literature review by the University of New South Wales, looking at the effectiveness and impact of international blending funding models on primary care.
- Review of General Practice Incentives – International Evidence and Literature Review
A literature review by University of New South Wales, analysing research on international blending funding models in primary care.
Why it’s important
General practice incentives aim to:
- help recruit and retain a sustainable health workforce
- support best-practice care, including in First Nation care, quality improvement and digital health.
The review’s recommendations will help guide general practice funding reform to ensure high-quality patient-centred care into the future.
The review responded to the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
Expert advisory panel
The expert advisory panel that lead the review comprises experts from primary care, First Nations, health economics, and health systems perspectives.
| Member | Expertise and role |
| Mr Mark Roddam (Chair – ex officio) | First Assistant Secretary, Primary Care Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Professor Anthony Scott | Health economist Professor and Director, Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University |
| Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo | General practitioner with an expertise in priority populations health Practice Principal, East Canberra General Practice |
| Dr Dawn Casey PSM (Proxy Dr Jason Agostino) | First Nations health Deputy Chief Executive Officer, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
| Ms Denise Lyons | Nurse practitioner Board member, Australia Primary Health Care Nurses Association |
| Professor Henry Cutler | Health economist Director, Centre for Health Economy, Macquarie Business School |
| Dr Paul Mara AM | Rural and remote general practitioner Managing Director, Quality Practice Accreditation |
| Ms Sinead O’Brien | State and territory representative Executive Director, Nursing and Integrated Performance |
| Emeritus Professor Stephen Duckett AM | Health system financing Honorary Professor in the School of Population and Global Health University of Melbourne |
| Tracey Johnson | Practice Manager and Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary, Inala Primary Care |
Final report
The Expert Advisory Panel delivered their final report to Government on 30 September 2024.
The Government is now considering the Panel’s recommendations.
Review of General Practice Incentives
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