The Australian Department of Health has released a draft of its 10-year plan to reform primary healthcare, which in a surprise move ties MBS-funded telehealth to its delayed voluntary patient registration (VPR) system.

VPR is supported by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) but its introduction has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It would see patients with chronic conditions voluntarily registering with one general practice, which would receive service incentive payments paid to improve the patient’s health rather than the current fee for service system.