30 April 2026
CHF recently provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry into rural, regional and remote Medicare access and funding. In January–February 2026, we invited people living in regional, rural and remote Australia to take part in an online survey or discussion to share their experiences, which directly informed our submission and recommendations. We also drew on insights shared with us over recent years through other consultations and the key findings of our National Consumer Sentiment Surveys.
Consumers living in regional, rural and remote communities consistently tell us they face major barriers to accessing the healthcare they need. These include long waiting times, few providers to choose from, poor continuity of care, high out of pocket costs, and the need to travel long distances to access care. These problems reflect long-term underinvestment, limited local services, and Medicare settings that do not adequately reflect the realities of life outside major cities.
Meaningful, ongoing engagement with rural and remote consumers and communities is essential to achieving lasting change and should be central to this Inquiry. Embedding consumer voices, including those of First Nations peoples, at all stages of policy development and service design is critical to ensure reforms are effective and fit for purpose.
To drive progress, Australia needs a National Rural Health Strategy, co-designed with regional, rural and remote consumers, consumer organisations, First Nations communities, healthcare providers, and other rural stakeholders, that defines what equitable access looks like in rural and remote settings and aligns Commonwealth, State and Territory investment. A national strategy would provide the structure, accountability and long-term commitment required to address rural health inequities and ensure that consumer voices are embedded at every stage of reform. This Inquiry has a critical opportunity to support a coordinated, community-driven approach that delivers a fairer, stronger and more effective Medicare and wider health system for all regional rural and remote Australians.
Consumers Health Forum of Australia’s (CHF) recommendations are as follows:
Consumer Engagement
Establish formal, embedded consumer engagement mechanisms in all regional, rural and remote health reform processes, including dedicated engagement with First Nations communities.
Support locally led models of care that reflect community-identified needs and priorities.
Hold Inquiry hearings in rural and remote locations, specifically Modified Monash Model (MMM) 3-7 regions, to ensure lived experience meaningfully informs this Inquiry.
A National Rural Health Strategy
Develop and fully fund a National Rural Health Strategy, co-designed with regional, rural and remote consumers and communities.
Support the National Rural Health Alliance’s work to define optimal levels of access and align funding with the true cost of rural service delivery.
Affordable and accessible primary care
Support blended funding models combining fee-for-service with block funding to ensure equitable, place-based care in regional, rural and remote communities.
Remove in-person attendance requirements for telehealth rebates and MyMedicare registration.
Expand Medicare rebates to support longer and multidisciplinary telehealth consultations.
Invest in reliable digital infrastructure as a healthcare access enabler, including broadband, mobile coverage, 000 access and telehealth hubs.
Strengthen telehealth readiness through community digital health literacy programs and provider training and equipment.
Urgent and after-hours care
Improve urgent and after-hours care through rural and remote specific models co-designed with local communities and providers.
Workforce development
Prioritise long-term regional, rural and remote workforce development through coordinated recruitment, training and retention strategies and supports.
Enable advanced, multidisciplinary service models that blend in-person and telehealth care, supported by flexible cross-setting work arrangements.
Implement reforms recommended in the ‘Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review’ Final Report to enable rural and remote health professionals to work to their full scope.
Travel support
Establish a more equitable and responsive Patient Assisted Travel Scheme with harmonised national elements, expanded eligibility and subsidies that reflect real costs.
Community education
Fund community-based Medicare education programs for rural and remote communities.
Inclusive care
Strengthen cultural, language and identity-specific support through translated materials, interpreter engagement and training, multicultural liaison roles, inclusive, affirming care for groups with specific needs, and community led First Nations models of care.
Data improvement
Enhance Medicare data transparency and usefulness by requiring full geographic disaggregation of service use, bulk billing rates and out-of-pocket costs.
