The Government has announced a top up in funding for rural general practices.
They'll get an extra $9 million over the next four years, on top of the $13 million a year already allocated for rural general practice support.
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says it's to help them hang on to clinical staff and services and will take effect from July next year, when a new way of allocating rural funding will begin.
It follows a review which found that current funding rules for the 200 or so rural practices were too bureaucratic.
The Minister says new approach will involve more grass roots decision making, with local alliances of DHBs, Primary Health Organisations and practices working together to agree on the services and the appropriate funding arrangements.