Health Reform and Medicare Locals

The Australian Government is currently undertaking an ambitious health reform agenda involving a range of initiatives. Significantly, the creation of Medicare Locals and their proposed structure and function has caused much discussion amongst the APA membership. The APA is actively involved in the current health reform agenda and is advocating for physiotherapists with government and other major stakeholders at conferences, forums and via submissions.

Medicare locals announced

The first of Australia's new network of primary health care organisations - Medicare Locals - have been announced.

According to the Australian Government this first group has been drawn from high performing Divisions of General Practice, many working in consortia with other organisations, with established records in improving primary health care for their local community, and strong plans to improve local primary care services into the future.

Each Medicare Local will be a locally run, independent non-government organisation, funded by the Australian Government. Each will have its own region and be responsive to local primary health care needs. For further details about the organisations selected please follow this link:

http://yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/medilocprofiles

Further information can be found at:

Guidelines for the establishment and initial operation of Medicare Locals
A national health and hospitals network for Australia's Future

Boundaries

The boundaries for Medicare locals have been released and can be viewed here:

Medicare Locals Boundaries

Factsheets

There is often confusion between Medicare Locals and GP Super Clinics. The following factsheets explain the differences between these two organisations.

Medicare Locals and Physiotherapy
GP Super Clinics and Physiotherapy

Some recent APA activities can be viewed below:

Submissions
Second Submission in Response to the Draft Boundaries for Medicare Locals
Feedback on the Medicare Locals: Governance and Functions discussion paper
Submission on Potential Boundaries for Medicare Locals and Local Hospital Networks
Response to Lead Clinicians Groups Discussion Paper [NPHCP submission]
Feedback on the Commonwealth position paper for Lead Clinicians Groups

InMotion Articles
Medicare Locals for beginners
Medicare Locals: get on board
Medicare Locals April 2011 update
Gettin the physiotherapy profession ready for Medicare Locals
Medicare Locals are a new opportunity
Medicare Locals: how can you get involved?

You can email or call your local branch to discuss any aspect of health reform.