65,000 Aussies to receive Healthier Medicare package during initial trial of massive changes to Australia’s medical system

There would be major changes to Australia’s medical system through health reforms initiated by the Turnbull government. Leading the changes is the introduction of a Healthier Medicare package that would be tried on 65,000 Australians with chronic conditions.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who will put to state and territory leaders the Healthier Medicare package at the COAG meeting on Friday, says it would be one of the biggest health system reforms in the country in three decades. The package targets to battle the rising cost of addressing chronic health issues of Aussies, reports Skynews.

“Patients with multiple chronic conditions will get a health care package tailored to their needs and that care will then be co-ordinated to help them easily navigate the complex system,” Turnbull says in a statement.

The 65,000 Aussies with chronic conditions would be given care in Healthcare Homes to be established to ensure continuity of care, coordinated services and a team-based approach based on the wishes and needs of the patient. People with chronic ailments would nominate a GP practice as their home base. The billing for these homes would be one of the biggest health system reforms in Australia since Medicare was introduced 30 years ago, explains Health Minister Sussan Ley.

The initial trial covers 200 medical practices. Among the range of services to be offered for Aussies with chronic health conditions such as arthritis, respiratory problems, eye ailments, mental health, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are GPs, specialists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians and psychologists.

The new system veers from the current fee-for-service model to encourage healthcare providers to be flexible and innovative in the manner they deliver and communicate care. It would also ensure the patient’s healthcare needs are tracked and reviewed regularly, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Under the current system, those who use highly the health system visit up to five different doctors a year. “Seeing multiple GPs increases a patient’s risk of poor healthcare coordination and their likelihood of falling through the cracks and ending up in hospital,” the statement says.