The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce began work in July 2022 to provide concrete recommendations to the Australian Government by the end of 2022. The Taskforce focused on:

• improving patient access to general practice, including after hours
• improving patient access to GP-led multidisciplinary team care, including nursing and allied health
• making primary care more affordable for patients
• improving prevention and management of ongoing and chronic conditions
• reducing pressure on hospitals.

The Taskforce met six times over six months. At these meetings, they delved into the benefits and challenges of blended funding systems, data and digital reform, voluntary patient registration, multidisciplinary team-based care, and what is needed to sustain primary care into the future. They also considered the challenge of making primary care accessible and affordable for all Australians, including First Nations Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people living in rural and remote Australia, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability and Australians less connected to the health system. Equity of health outcomes was at the centre of their discussions. The Taskforce focused on how best to give all Australians what they want and need in their healthcare system, to help us design a primary care system that delivers person-centred, integrated and connected care, a system that aims to provide wrap around care for those that need it most.

This report distils those discussions and makes clear recommendations on next steps. It identifies where government needs to invest now to rebuild primary care as the vibrant core of an effective, modern health system. The Taskforce calls on the federal government to back this investment with practical actions, clear accountability for driving outcomes and comprehensive support for the sector to manage change.