GPs can now exempt a Centrelink patient from work or other activities for up to 24 months.
Previously GPs could only issue medical certificates for up to 13 weeks for patients who could not meet their Centrelink payment requirements.
AMA(WA) General Practice Group chair Dr Mary Wyatt said the new medical certificates were welcomed and would save patients and practitioners time and resources.
“Especially for patients with chronic conditions that will take more than 13 weeks to resolve, such as mental health conditions and chronic arthritic injuries awaiting surgery,” she said.
“This change saves them multiple visits when medical recovery will obviously take longer than the previous 13 weeks.”
However, Dr Wyatt said an extended certificate was not suitable for all patients.
“For the majority of patients, it is unlikely to impact them significantly as the 13 week review is often a good opportunity to assess whether a patient is fit to return to work and ready to increase their hours as part of their rehabilitation from injury or medical illness,” she said.
“The discretion to use the longer review period will be up to the GP, based on what is best for the patients. It is likely to be a rare situation for a GP to use the full 24 months between reviews.”
A possible medical exemption applies to those who are receiving either JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance for job seekers, Parenting Payment Single when the youngest child turns six and Special Benefit for Nominated Visa Holders.
Some of the requirements under these schemes include agreeing to a job plan, visiting an employment services provider, looking for work and going to all job interviews.
Services Australia advises that a medical certificate should explain how long an exemption is needed.
It could also determine whether a client’s Centrelink payments need to be reduced or changed.
The medical exemption will only apply if a sickness or illness prevents a client from doing any suitable work or participating in other activities like training for up to eight hours per day.
Services Australia encourages GPs to submit a Centrelink Medical Certificate (SU683) online using the Health and Professional Online Services to help process patient requests faster.
GPs can still provide patients with signed hard copies that they will need to either upload to their Centrelink account or lodge at a service centre.