healthcare rebates are available through a client’ s private healthcare insurance, a telehealth consultation format may not be rebatable from all insurance providers.
There are a number of options to choose from when it comes to potential telehealth platforms. The phone is probably the most obvious one but far more effective communication can be had via audiovisual media. Some of the more commonly selected choices here include:
• Microsoft Teams( https:// www. microsoft. com / en-au / microsoftteams / group-chat-software)
• Zoom( https:// zoom. us)
• Goto Meeting( https:// www. goto. com / meeting)
• Coviu( https:// www. coviu. com / en-au)
• Doxy. me( https:// doxy. me)
• Skype( https:// www. skype. com)
The RACGP hosts a useful guide on setting up for telehealth which can be viewed at https:// www. racgp. org. au / running-a-practice / technology / clinical-technology / telehealth / guideto-providing-telephone-and-videoconsultatio / introduction
REFERENCES 1. Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Statistics under Medicare 2022- https:// www. health. gov. au / topics / medicare / datastatistics-reporting? utm _ source = health. gov. au & utm _ medium = callout-autocustom & utm _ campaign = digital _ transformation
2. Gibbins A, et al. ATMS Survey: Perspectives on the reinstatement of health fund rebates for naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine. ATMS Journal. 2025; 31( 3): 130-6.
3. RACGP telehealth position statementhttps:// www. racgp. org. au / advocacy / position-statements / view-all-positionstatements / clinical-and-practicemanagement / racgp-position-telehealthgeneral-practice
4. The Australian Medical Indemnity Protection Society telehealth guidance-( https:// support. mips. com. au / home / telehealth-practices-faq-guide)
5. Scott AM, et al. Final Report: Telehealth Work Package A. June 2023. Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine- https:// research. bond. edu. au / en / publications / final-report-telehealth-workpackage-a
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics Patient Experiences, Experience of telehealth services- https:// www. digitalhealth. gov. au / healthcare-providers / initiatives-andprograms / telehealth
7. Hayes RD, et al. Patient Experience with In-Person and Telehealth Visits Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Large Integrated Health System in the United
States. J Gen Intern Med. 2022; 37( 4): 847- 52. https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / 34982370 /
8. Genrich CM, et al. Telemedicine and Its Perceptions in a Border Community: A Review of How Health Care Technology Has Helped Increase Access. Telemed J E Health. 2024; 30( 4): 987-93. https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / 34982370 /
9. Kodjebacheva GD, et al. Satisfaction With Telehealth Services Compared With Nontelehealth Services Among Pediatric Patients and Their Caregivers: Systematic Review of the Literature. JMIR Pediatr Parent. 2023:6: e41554. https:// pediatrics. jmir. org / 2023 / 1 / e41554 /
10. Mehta S, et al. Teledermatology and Virtual Visits for Acne Management: A Review. J Cutan Med Surg. 2025; 29( 1): 63-8. https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / 39487591 /
11. Ibrahim ME, et al. Comparing Telemedicine and In-Person Psychological Interventions for Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2025; 17( 8): e89594. https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / 40926917 /
12. Osman S, et al. The Unintended Consequences of Telehealth in Australia: Critical Interpretive Synthesis. J Med Internet Res. 2024; 26: e57848. https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov / 39190446 /
13. Speaking Up for Health: Findings from the 2024 National Consumer Sentiment Survey- https:// www. datocms-assets. com / 144433 / 1761612001-consumersentiment-survey-2024. pdf