After more than a decade of lobbying and advocacy, the May Federal Budget saw the introduction of funding for long-awaited reforms for NPs and for, most importantly, the people for whom they provide care. But the joy felt following the Budget announcement was short-lived, as NPs, yet again, have been made to wait.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced there would be $46.8 million to fund Medicare rebates for care provided by NPs, and that the rebate would increase by 30%. A great outcome, given the recommendation for a significant increase to the rebate from the NP Reference Group to the MBS Taskforce under the previous government, was ignored.

Listed as a 2022-23 budget initiative, this increase was expected to start in July.

But 1 July 2023 came and went with no explanation for the delay.

It wasn’t until the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer’s newsletter was circulated that peak nursing groups became aware that the rebate increase wouldn’t come into effect until 1 July 2024, a year later than promised.

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