Strengthening Medicare - General Practice (GP) Grants Program

The Strengthening Medicare General Practice Grants Program is now open.

A registration/application email has been sent to the recorded primary contact for each general practice. If you believe you have not received this communication, please email gpmedicaregrants@thephn.com.au with the name of your practice and your contact details.

Key Dates

• Friday 21 April – grant round opens
• Thursday 27 April PHN information session – register here
• Friday 28 April – General Practices to complete registration/application process by this date where possible
• Friday 28 April – Thursday 1 June processing of applications and payments
• Thursday 15 June - grant round closes

For further information please see the attached Overview Fact sheet and General Practice Reference Guide or refer to the Department fact sheet: www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/strengthening-medicare-general-practice-grants-program

Grants of up to $50,000 will be available to support General Practice to make improvements to their operations, to expand patient access and provide better, safe, accessible quality care.

The Australian Government is investing $220 million over two years through the Strengthening Medicare – GP Grants Program as part of a broader program to deliver better access and care for patients.

A one-off grant of either $25,000, $35,000 or $50,000, based on practice size, will be available to make improvements to operations. These improvements will be achieved through innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works to support patient care in the following ways:

• Enhance digital health capability (IT hardware and software upgrades) to fast-track the benefits of a more connected healthcare system in readiness to meet future standards. For example, increasing uptake of contemporary digital health solutions including video telehealth, secure data storage and interoperable software that supports seamless and secure communication of patient data.
• Upgrade infection prevention and control arrangements to ensure infectious respiratory disease (e.g., COVID, influenza) patients can be safely seen face to face. This may include increasing the general practices capacity to manage COVID-19 positive patients and other patients presenting with other respiratory illnesses.
• Maintain and/or achieve accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practice under the General Practice Accreditation Scheme to promote quality and safety in general practice.

The Department of Health and Aged Care will set the national parameters for the Program, while the management and administration will be facilitated by the PHN.

General Practices will need to register in our new grants system – SmartyGrants in order to apply.

Please note: Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) will be provided Strengthening Medicare grants through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).