cohealth urges Commonwealth for action in wake of Federal Budget

Leading not-for-profit community health organisation, cohealth, is welcoming the investments in health and cost-of-living relief measures contained in the Federal Budget — but is calling on the Commonwealth to take further decisive action to assist people with complex health and social needs. 

cohealth Chief Executive, Nicole Bartholomeusz says the move to invest in and strengthen Medicare, including the proposed incentives for bulk-billing GP clinics, are particularly welcome.  

“These incentives will go some way to bridging the gap between the funding we receive and the actual cost of GP care,” Ms Bartholomeusz says, “supporting cohealth to deliver the best possible care for our communities.” 

As previously announced, Labor is also promising if it wins the next election that the cost of most PBS medicines will be cut from $31.20 to $25. 

“cohealth supports reducing the cost of PBS medicines, so that everyone — regardless of their income — can access the healthcare and medication they need, when they need it,” Ms Bartholomeusz says. 

cohealth also acknowledges that the Budget’s increase to the Medicare levy low-income threshold, coupled with the announced tax cuts, have the potential to improve the cost-of-living for cohealth’s communities. 

However, Ms Bartholomeusz says there is still much work to be done. 

“At cohealth, we are committed to using our voice to champion the systemic changes required to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities,” Ms Bartholomeusz says. 

With the 2025 federal announcement imminent, cohealth is calling on the Commonwealth to act by: 

• Increasing bulk-billing incentives. 

• Making MBS changes that support healthcare professionals to better help Australians, including increased rebates for longer consultations. 

• Investment piloting in Tasmanians’ health by funding a new model of community health in the Glamorgan Spring Bay local government area. 

• Piloting a new model of resourcing urgent care and lifesaving emergency GP-led care in rural and remote Tasmanian communities where there are no emergency departments.

“We urge the Federal Government to consider the changes we are proposing and take decisive action to address the pressing challenges facing primary care in our communities,” Ms Bartholomeusz says.  

“These reforms are not just an investment in healthcare — they are an investment in the well-being and resilience of our communities, enabling us to meet the rising costs of providing essential health services without compromising quality or accessibility.” 

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more information: Adam Bennett 0424 147 230 adam.bennett@cohealth.org.au 

About cohealth: cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that provides low-cost and free local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, aged care and counselling, and many specialist health services in Melbourne’s CBD, inner-north and inner-west, and the east coast of Tasmania.