Mr Butler met with ministers from across the country in Canberra on Friday for the first time since May's federal election.
The group agreed to further promote the availability of antiviral treatments for COVID-19, as winter case numbers spike.
"The meeting heard from the Commonwealth deputy chief medical officer Dr Sonya Bennett on the challenges currently being experienced over winter of both increased rates of influenza and COVID and the impending BA.4 and 5 wave," a readout of the meeting said.
"Minister Butler reported on the Commonwealth's submission to (the pharmaceutical benefits advisory council) to review the eligibility criteria for access to COVID-19 antiviral therapies."
Health ministers also discussed increased demand on the public hospital system, and committed to meeting every month for the rest of the year.
The surge in COVID-19 cases coincides with the end of pandemic leave payments, with infected people still required to isolate at home.
Australia's peak union body has lashed out at the government's decision to axe the payment, arguing it will force thousands to make a choice between obeying isolation rules or paying bills.
But Mr Butler insisted the government did not have the financial capacity to continue funding the emergency payments.
"We're going to have to start moving towards more normal programs that support the Australian community and people have been on notice about that for some time," he told ABC radio on Friday.
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O'Neil says a lack of government support will force people to work while they are sick, spreading the virus further.
The new government is ignoring the lessons learned early in the pandemic and should reverse their decision, she said.
"If we are asking people to isolate to keep the community safe, then we need to ensure that they are supported to do that," she said on Friday.
"No one should suffer such a big financial penalty for doing the right thing."
At the same time as scrapping pandemic leave payments, the health minister warned a third wave of Omicron cases is expected, with re-infections likely due to a new variant.
Australians must get their booster as soon as possible to protect themselves, he said.
There were 33 new deaths with the virus reported on Friday, taking Australia's total fatalities since the pandemic began to 9930.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
Victoria: 8057 cases, 12 deaths, 472 in hospital with 23 in ICU
NSW: 10,930 cases, nine deaths, 1558 in hospital with 41 in ICU
Tasmania: 1303 cases, no deaths, 47 in hospital with four in ICU
Queensland: 5313 cases, six deaths, 587 in hospital with 14 in ICU
NT: 302 cases, no deaths, 17 in hospital with two in ICU
WA: 5072 cases, two deaths, 217 in hospital with 10 in ICU
SA: 2781 cases, three deaths, 227 in hospital with seven in ICU
ACT: 1169 cases, one death, 138 in hospital with four in ICU.
