Does Medicare Support Multidisciplinary Teams Working to the Top of Their Ticket?

Abstract

The health landscape has changed enormously since the introduction of Medicare 40 years ago. Not only have population health needs changed, the provision of health care has also evolved. A wider range of health practitioners with enhanced skills and competencies are ready and able to provide high-quality primary health care. However, expecting the funding model introduced 40 years ago to be fit for purpose to support this expanded workforce may be unrealistic. Whilst optimising person-centred team care might be the vision, currently missing is the systems thinking approach required to realise the synergistic benefits of health care teams.