Rural Doctors Settlement Package
The Rural Doctors Settlement Package (RDSP) was negotiated by the Rural Doctors' Association and Ministry of Health in 1988. It is a set of fees paid by rural hospitals for public services rendered at RDSP hospitals (see list below) by Visiting Medical Officers. Fees are indexed annually on 1st August according to a formula based on the CPI and other factors.
The RDA NSW continues to meet quarterly with the Ministry of Health for a Liaison Committee meeting for ongoing consultation between rural doctors and the Ministry.
New RDSP Item Numbers
Over the past three years, several new item numbers have been introduced into the Rural Doctors Settlement Package (RDSP) to better support and remunerate GP VMOs for their time and contributions:
-
Item Number 1011
This item supports remuneration for pre-approved supervision of junior doctors—such as during ward rounds or procedures.
-
Item Number 1015
This new item number is claimable for a consultation during a ward round on Sundays and Public Holidays – where only one in-patient (including a nursing home type patient) is seen.
-
Item Number 1079
This new item should now be used to claim Mandatory Training. It replaces item number 1076.
To assist GP VMOs and VMO Checkers in understanding and correctly using some of the new item numbers, we've prepared a helpful FAQ sheet:
👉 Download the FAQ Sheet – New Item Numbers
New Incremented Sessional Rates for Rural Generalists working in RDSP Hospitals
In 2025, after negotiations through the Rural Doctors Employment Arrangements Working Group of which the RDA NSW was involved in, NSW Health is now able to offer an incremented sessional rate to Rural Generalists who work in an RDSP Hospital using their advanced skill.
- The VMO sessional contract will operate alongside an RDSP contract, allowing fee-for-service (FFS) payments at RDSP rates for work completed outside of scheduled sessions.
- The sessional contract is to be offered by mutual agreement and there will be no change to the current contract expiry date if the incremented rate is accepted.
- The VMO may still elect to be paid under their RDSP FFS contract, which continues to provide the flexibility of not requiring a continuous onsite presence.
- Please note that GP VMOs utilising their advanced skill, who are eligible for the new incremented rate, need to speak with their Director of Medical Services (DMS) to request the new rate to be applied to their VMO sessional contract. This rate will not be automatically applied to GP VMO contracts.
Below are the current sessional VMO rates:
|
Classification
|
Base rate
|
Background Practice Costs
(Non FRACS)
|
12% Super on Base
|
|
GP < 5 years
|
$ 168.20
|
$ 31.15
|
$ 20.18
|
|
Fellowed GP or 5+ years
|
$ 216.15
|
$ 31.15
|
$ 25.94
|
|
'Specialist' (non-GP)
|
$ 244.70
|
$ 31.15
|
$ 29.36
|
|
'Senior Specialist' (non-GP)
|
$ 262.60
|
$ 31.15
|
$ 31.51
|
- The current rate for an RG is Fellowed GP or 5+ years. They can increment up to ‘Specialist’ with a new VMO contract under the Special Determination.
- GP Trainees required to utilise advanced skills can increment to Fellowed GP if they have < 5 years’ experience.
Need help?
Please contact the RDA NSW office on ph: 1800 350 732, or via email: [email protected] if you have any questions or require any assistance with:
- the RDSP Indexation of Fees,
- the RDSP Clarifications Reference Guide
- your VMO contract
- rejected VMO claims
- interpreting which RDSP item number to bill
Download RDSP Fee Schedule-effective 1st August 2025
Download Model Contract- Fee-for-Service Contract- RDSP Hospitals
Rural Doctors Settlement Package (RDSP) Hospital List
BALLINA – removed from list 2014
BALRANALD
BARADINE
BARHAM
BARRABA
BATEMANS BAY
BATLOW
BEGA – new hospital built named South East Regional Hospital – removed from list 2016
BELLINGEN-BELLINGER RIVER
BERRIGAN WAR MEMORIAL
BINGARA
BLAYNEY
BOGGABRI
BOMBALA
BONALBO
BOOROWA
BOURKE
BOWRAL
BRAIDWOOD
BREWARRINA
BUNDARRA
BYRON-BRUNSWICK
CANOWINDRA SOLDIERS
CARCOAR *hospital closed
CASINO
CESSNOCK
COBAR
COLLARENEBRI
CONDOBOLIN
COOLAH
COOLAMON
COOMA
COONABARABRAN
COONAMBLE
COOTAMUNDRA
COROWA
COWRA
CROOKWELL
CUDAL *hospital closed
CULCAIRN
DELEGATE
DENILIQUIN
DENMAN
DORRIGO
DUNEDOO WAR MEMORIAL
DUNGOG
EMMAVILLE-VEGETABLE CREEK
EUGOWRA MEMORIAL
FINLEY
FORBES
GILGANDRA
GLEN INNES
GLOUCESTER SOLDIERS MEMORIAL
GOODOOGA
GOULBURN-ST JOHN OF GOD
GRENFELL
GULGONG
GUNDAGAI
GUNNEDAH
GUYRA WAR MEMORIAL
HARDEN-MURRUMBURRAH
HAY
HENTY
HILLSTON
HOLBROOK
INVERELL
JERILDERIE
JUNEE
KIAMA – aged care facility only – removed from list
KURRI KURRI
KYOGLE-MEMORIAL
LAKE CARGELLIGO
LEETON
LITHGOW
LOCKHART
LORD HOWE ISLAND
MACKSVILLE
MACLEAN
MANILLA
MERRIWA
MILTON-ULLADULLA
MOLONG
MOREE PLAINS
MORUYA
MUDGEE
MULLUMBIMBY-BRUNSWICK – hospital closed
MURRURUNDI-WILSON MEMORIAL
MUSWELLBROOK
NARRABRI
NARRANDERA
NARROMINE
NOWRA-SHOALHAVEN – removed from list
NYNGAN
OBERON
PAMBULA
PARKES
PEAK HILL
PORTLAND
QUANDIALLA – hospital closed
QUIRINDI
RYLSTONE
SCONE-SCOTT MEMORIAL
SINGLETON
TEMORA
TENTERFIELD-PRINCE ALBERT MEMORIAL
TINGHA
TOCUMWAL
TOTTENHAM
TRANGIE
TRUNDLE
TULLAMORE
TUMBARUMBA
TUMUT
UNGARIE – hospital closed
URANA- MCCAUGHEY
URBENVILLE
WALCHA
WALGETT
WARIALDA
WARREN
WAUCHOPE
WEE WAA
WELLINGTON
WENTWORTH
WERRIS CREEK
WEST WYALONG
YASS
YEOVAL CO-OP *hospital closed
YOUNG
YOUNG-MERCY CARE