Strengthening
Medicare Grants

The application and grant agreement process has been simplified by only requiring one form to be completed. General practices should receive an application pack from their local Primary Health Network (PHN).

Following the PHN’s receipt of a practice’s correctly completed and signed application and grant agreement form, the grant payment will be made in accordance with the PHN’s standard payment terms and the practice’s indicated payment timing preferences on the form.
Practices are encouraged to submit their applications early during the application period in order to receive the grant funding quickly, to enable maximum time to undertake investment activities.

To qualify for the Strengthening Medicare General Practice Grants Program, a general practice must meet the following three criteria: the practice must operate within the RACGP definition of general practice, the services provided should predominantly be of a general practice nature, and the practice should meet all the mandatory indicators in the RACGP Standards for General Practices (5th edition). Additionally, the practice must be open and operating according to the RACGP definition for practice accreditation against the Standards for General Practices (5th edition).

To assist in determining whether a health service meets the definition of a general practice, please refer to the RACGP fact sheet.

A general practice does not need to be accredited or registered for accreditation against the Standards for General Practices in order to be eligible for the Program.

*‘Predominantly’ is defined by the Health Insurance Regulations 2018 (made under the Health Insurance Act 1973) as ‘more than 50% of the practitioner’s clinical time, and more than 50% of the services for which Medicare benefits are claimed, are in general practice.’

A single one-off grant of either $25,000, $35,000 or $50,000 (based on practice size and accreditation status) will be available for investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works – to be expended on any of the three investment streams below:

I. enhancing digital health capability – to fast-track the benefits of a more connected healthcare system in readiness to meet future standards;

II. upgrading infection prevention and control arrangements – to support the safe, face-to-face assessment of patients with symptoms of potentially infectious respiratory diseases (e.g. COVID, influenza);

III. maintaining or achieving accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practices (5th edition), under the General Practice Accreditation Scheme – to promote quality and safety in general practice.

The grants can be used for staff training, purchase of equipment and/or services (including consultant services), innovation, minor capital works, and the reimbursement of staff time (including contractor GPs) associated with undertaking these investment activities. The Program provides the flexibility for applicants to identify investments within one or more of the three investment streams that best address individual practice needs

15 June 2023 – Grant Applications Close
Completed forms are due no later than 15 June 2023. Practices are encouraged to submit completed forms early to allow maximum time to undertake investment activities.

30 June 2024 – End of General Practice Grants Program
Grantees must spend the grant before the end date of the Program.

Quick Reference Guide | General Practice Grants Program –
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Overview – Strengthening Medicare – General Practice (GP) Grants Program
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Media Release – Strengthening Medicare with $220m in GP Grants
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