Ged Kearney (Cooper, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the members for their contributions to the debate on the Health Legislation Amendment (Removal of Requirement for a Collaborative Arrangement) Bill 2024. In conclusion, this bill will remove the legislative arrangement known as a collaborative arrangement between a nurse practitioner or endorsed midwife and a doctor. This bill recognises that nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives are autonomous professionals who can deliver high-quality care to patients within their scope of practice. This important reform recognises the important role nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives play in the delivery of healthcare services. It will support them to provide care to the full extent of their education and ability, allowing them to collaborate flexibly without limiting their professional scope.

Removing the legislative requirement for collaborative arrangements means nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives will now be able to prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines and provide services under Medicare without having to get a doctor to sign off on it. This will not impede clinical collaboration or the delivery of care. These health professionals are already regulated by the professional standards for practice and quality and safety guidelines issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia which require collaboration with other health professionals. This is an actionable standard under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act as enforced in each state and territory. Currently, nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives are the only professions that have legislated collaborative arrangement requirements for MBS and PBS access. These changes today will bring them into line with other healthcare professions.

The impacts of this bill will be profound for Australians being cared for by nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives. For women, it will make it easier to get access to care—particularly for women who have an established relationship with an endorsed midwife, and for other women who have been attending nurse-practitioner-led clinics. Their skills and empathy can be valuable for many women's health issues, from menopause to family-planning advice. We also know that people living in rural and remote area struggle to access health care. By removing the legislative requirement to have a collaborative arrangement, this will support more nurse practitioner clinics to have financial viability, and these increase access to high-quality health care. Fewer people will need to travel hundreds of kilometres to access a medical petitioner to secure a collaborative arrangement. Moreover, the bill will contribute to the long-term goals of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and the Nurse Practitioner Workforce Plan.

This bill is good for nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives, it's good for patients and it's good for the entire Australian healthcare system. I thank all members of parliament.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending an appropriation announced.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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