GPs and healthcare providers are concerned for the future of telehealth with changes that limit who can use the service coming into effect from July 20.

Under the changes, patients will no longer be able to access the Medicare-subsidised telephone and video appointments if they do not already have an existing relationship with that medical practice or healthcare provider.

This does not apply to specialist and allied health consultations.

There are some exemptions to the changes including people living under stage three COVID-19 restrictions, infants under 12 months and people experiencing homelessness.

The changes are aimed at getting patients to receive continuous care from a regular GP or medical practice but some experts say this excludes those who are going to different providers.

Jamal Hakim is the managing director at Marie Stopes Australia, a national reproductive health clinic which provides contraceptive services, vasectomies and medical abortions across Australia.

“From next week that access to telehealth services, when it comes to sexual and reproductive health, will stop and from September we have no clarity around what’s happening with telehealth services,” Mr Hakim told ABC Radio Brisbane.

“Surprise, surprise, people are still having sex, people are still having STIs and people are still having unplanned pregnancies.”

“Telehealth is really critical in that space and people still need that specialist help.”

Mr Hakim says stigma around procedures such as medical abortions means that people do not always feel comfortable speaking with their regular practitioner.

Mr Hakim praised the Government for its quick implementation of telehealth during the pandemic but says he would like to see the service remain unchanged.

Calls for long-term telehealth

The Federal Government has said the limited telehealth will remain in place until September 30.

After that, its future is unclear.

Brisbane mother Sally Slack told ABC Radio Brisbane everyone in her family has made use of telehealth, including her son who has regular speech pathology appointments.

“We did an appointment this morning and we just zoomed in and had this speech pathology appointment via telehealth and it saved me having to take time off work, take him out of school and rush to the appointment,” Ms Slack said.

Dr Bruce Willet from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners siad around 30 per cent of patient matters can be dealt with in a telehealth consultation.

He believes the remote consults have largely replaced face-to-face appointments but do not pose a great additional cost to the healthcare system.

“GPs are pushing hard to allow it to continue because I think it has provided a much better service to patients and access to patients who would otherwise struggle to get to the doctor,” Dr Willet said.

“A lot of my patients with disabilities have really really valued this service.”

In a statement, a spokesperson from for the Minister for Health said the Government would review telehealth items prior to September 30.

“The Minister for Health intends for telehealth to be a positive legacy of this crisis and is engaged with the medical community in planning a long-term future for telehealth.”