Some health insurers could use new Government contracts as a backdoor into GP clinics as private health insurance premiums rise, experts say.

The Federal Government has dismantled organisations known as Medicare Locals and has since run a tender process for what will be known as Primary Health Networks.

They will run programs in communities around Australia linking GPs and hospitals, with the aim of keeping patients as healthy as possible.

Winners of the successful tenders will be announced soon.

But some academics warn that allowing private health insurers to run training and workplace programs for GPs will create conflicts of interest.

University of New South Wales health care expert Gawaine Powell Davies is concerned insurers could use their role training and coordinating GP clinics to influence referral practices.

Got a confidential news tip? Email ABC Investigations at investigations@abc.net.au For more sensitive information: Text message using the Signal phone app +61 436 369 072 No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app uses end-to-end encryption and can protect your identity. Please read the terms and conditions.

"My guess is there will be a lot of little slippery slopes and a lot of little back doors that a year or two down the track lead to private health insurance taking a bigger role, which is not necessarily good for the community as a whole," he said.

"Their major commitment has to be to their members.

"However well intentioned they are to the rest of the community, Primary Health Networks really have to have an eye first on those who have the least good health care and are least likely to be in private health insurance."

Health insurer Bupa and private medical company Aspen, which operates the Federal Government's Ebola clinic in Sierra Leone, have both thrown their hats in to be part of the networks.

Whoever wins the tender will get a share of $840 million in Federal Government funds over the next three years.

Legally, private health insurers have been prevented from offering GP benefits, and some academics see the Primary Health Network tenders as a backdoor way into clinics.

The Australian Medical Association also has concerns.

GP spokesman Dr Brian Morton said the uninsured may lose out.

"The conflict of interest for a private health insurer may be they provide better access to their members," Dr Morton said.

"It may be preferential access to services, rather than making it equitable in [terms of] access for every Australian."

The peak body for insurers, Private Health Care Australia, did not want to comment before tenders were announced.

But chief executive Dr Michael Armitage previously said increased private sector involvement is key to improving quality and consistency in the health system while reducing costs.