7 May 2026 - Top Stories

Grattan Institute's call for blended GP funding signals a major rewire for primary care in Australia.

The Grattan Institute's policy briefing on blended GP funding signals a major rewire for primary care. If clinics move away from fee-for-service toward per-patient budgeting and shared risk, health networks will lean on care-coordination tools embedded in practice management systems. That shift benefits PHNs and vendors offering integrated budgeting features.

ACSALDH has urged a national reset of digital health funding, calling for alignment of MRFF, NHMRC and ARC streams and ongoing ecosystem support beyond grants. If accepted, universities coordinating cross-disciplinary work win access to scalable platforms, and vendors with interoperable data tools gain a core market advantage.

Victoria's Health Department outlined the next phase of CareSync Exchange rollout, with more than half the population now represented and nine public services live. Clinicians gain real-time access to cross-service records, and patients benefit from integrated notes, while the challenge is scaling data governance and privacy safeguards.

Rural health policy is a tinderbox. NSW councils unveiled a six-point plan that includes a GP guarantee and regional funding for transport, aged care and maternity, while DoHDA has not approved DPAs since 2023. The pattern leaves funding fragile and delivery tied to uncertain timelines, elevating demand for telehealth and workforce-planning tools.

LCC bias in HTA blocks access to medicines. The PBAC guidelines leaning toward cheaper comparators could push manufacturers and investors toward faster launches, while risking limited patient access to genuinely innovative therapies.

• Grattan Institute called for blended GP funding - this will require health IT vendors to deliver per-patient budgeting modules integrated with practice management systems within 12 to 18 months.
• ACSALDH urged a national reset of digital health funding - this will compel funders to align MRFF, NHMRC and ARC streams, making interoperable digital health platforms a priority for university-scale research and vendor partnerships.
• Victoria Health Department expanded CareSync Exchange rollout - this will require EMR vendors to ensure interoperability with cross-service records and strengthen data governance.
• NSW councils' six-point rural health plan backed by the state - this will drive demand for telehealth, remote monitoring and GP recruitment tools in regional clinics.
• DoHDA's DPA exemptions stagnation - this will push rural and outer-metropolitan communities to rely more on telehealth platforms and workforce planning tech.
• HTA bias toward the lowest-cost comparator - this will reward manufacturers and investors with quicker launches and clearer pricing signals, while risking reduced patient access to innovative therapies.