LOS ANGELES: Changes made late last year allowed general practitioners to assess, diagnose and prescribe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurological condition defined by pervasive inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity or a combination.

The changes took effect on December 1, 2025, after being announced by Health Minister Tim Nicholls at the RACGP conference on November 15.

They allow GPs to provide rural and regional communities greater access to services once blocked by a shortage of psychiatrists.

RACGP rural chairman Associate Professor Michael Clements said in November that psychiatry fees could cost from $500 to $3000 for initial diagnosis and management.

QLD GP and Federal AMA President, Danielle McMullen said GPs had been receptive to the additional allowances for patients with ADHD but would need time to implement the changes.

“It has only been about a month, or six weeks since the changes have happened and we doctors were only given two weeks’ notice,” Dr McMullen said.

Dr McMullen said there was not a long lead-up time before doctors were able to implement the changes but GPs were already skilled at providing assessment and treatment for a range of conditions.

“You walk into our door with everything from a sore toe or heart problems, or severe mental health challenges and our GPs are ready to help,” she said.

“But that requires maintaining a lot of upskilling on the newest medications and treatment pathways and things for all sorts of conditions.”

Dr McMullen said treatment had mainly been run through specialist GPs, but she expected changes as more doctors got on board.

“As time goes on we will see the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD become a more mainstream part of general practice, training and treatment pathways,” she said.

She said although specific training had not reached the top of the pile yet for a number of doctors, she was impressed with the speed in which GPs had started to upskill.