National Health Reform
The Australian Government has announced significant change to Australia's health system. These policy directions are aimed at creating a more equitable, cost effective, connected health system in Australia.
Through the Council of Australian Governments' National Health and Hospitals Network (NHHN) Agreement, a NHHN will comprise of regional Medicare Locals (MLs) and Local Hospital Networks (LHNs) working together to deliver more integrated, locally responsive and flexible health services to improve the patient’s journey through the health system.
Further information on health reform, including the boundaries for MLs and LHNs, can be found at the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) website.
One Page Summary of the National Health Reforms
Medicare Locals (MLs)
Assessing Medicare Local Boundaries
Medicare local boundaries are published at
http://yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/MediLocBound_Review. The site also provides GIS files.
Using GIS software isn’t straight forward, so we’ve created a video that shows you in about 2 mins how to select and print a Medicare Local Boundary using ArcGIS
The video is available from http://staging.gpnsw.com.au/esri/
You need to download the free ESRI ArcGIS Explorer from http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/download.html
Finally, GP NSW have created an ESRI map file (MN.nmf) that allows to select your Medicare Local boundary with a single click. To use the map file, you will need to download and install ESRI ArcGIS Explorer and the Medicare Local ESRI files.
Invitation to Apply (ITA)
The Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Medicare Local is the next phase in the health reform process, as announced Tuesday 22 February 2011.
Australian Government, Department of Health & Ageing has released: Guidelines for the establishment and initial operation of Medicare Locals & Information for applicants wishing to apply for funding to establish a Medicare Local (2011).
Applicants
- Applicants wishing to be considered for the first group of Medicare Locals to commence from 1 July 2011 have six weeks from the time of the ITA advertisement to submit their applications; due Tuesday 5 April 2011.
- Applicants wishing to apply for a Medicare Local to commence in either January 2012 or July 2012 have 21 weeks from the time of the ITA advertisement to submit their applications; due Tuesday 19 July 2011.
MLs will be responsible for managing the primary health care needs of the population within a defined geographic region with a range of functions aimed at:
- making it easier for patients to navigate the local health care system;
- providing more integrated care;
- ensuring more responsive local GP and primary health care services that meet the needs and priorities of patients and communities; and
- making primary health care work as an effective system as part of the overall health system.
MLs will be established as independent legal entities with strong links to their local communities, health professionals, service providers and consumer and patient groups, enabling them to respond effectively to local needs.
Support for Divisions or General Practice and General Practice Networks
GP NSW staff are available to provide advice and support to Divisions of General Practice in NSW throughout the application and transition processes.
Transition resources are also available to Network members through two distinct Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) websites, each site with its own login details:
- AGPN Website: Network members can access information, products and services under ‘Medical Local Transition’ in the 'Members Area' of the AGPN website at: www.agpn.com.au. These web pages contain information on ITA support, governance, partnerships and engagement, population health, organisational development, and change management.
- AGPN Forums: Registered Network members may also participate in online web forums at: www.medicarelocaltransition.com.au. This website contains online forums (in Q&A format) on key issues and hot topics such as legal, governance, human resources and the ITA process.
For Network members: To register for the two websites above, please contact mpirani@agpn.com.au stating your name, position and network organisation.
Commonwealth Government Policy and Resources
The Commonwealth Government has initiated and enacted a series of reviews designed to identify ways in which to improve health service planning and delivery throughout Australia. Below is a series of publications which outline these reviews and the reform process.
National Health and Hospitals Network
National Primary Health Care Strategy
National Preventative Health Taskforce
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC)
Commonwealth of Australian Governments (COAG)
Australian Government 2010-11 Health and Ageing Portfolio Budget Statement
Fact sheet
GP NSW has developed a fact sheet to shed light on the full national health reform agenda and ‘connect the dots’ by bringing the range of disparate information on each major primary health care reform together in one information resource.
Primary Health Care Reform – bringing it all together fact sheet - July 2011