Medicare Locals show their new DNA
“Australia’s network of Medicare Locals will be easily identifiable as a cohesive national network with its new ‘ribbon helix’ branding,” said AGPN chair Dr Emil Djakic at a Medicare Local Forum held at Parliament House.
“But it’s the changes Medicare Locals will bring to local health care services for both health care professionals and consumers that will make the difference over time,” Dr Djakic said.
Leaders for the first 19 of the planned 62 Medicare Locals met in Canberra and heard the Prime Minister say that they would be “front and centre in the push to “ shift the centre of gravity from hospitals towards primary health care”.
She said Medicare Locals would play a key role in helping to improve access to after-hours care, chronic disease prevention and management programs and mental health initiatives.
“Medicare Locals will deliver home-grown solutions to local health problems and make it easier for Australians to see and contact a health professional,” a statement said.
However, a critic (link) this week blogged that the creation of Medicare Locals was the Federal government’s way of exerting control over previously independent bodies. He claimed that the Federal health department would have the final say over staff appointments, programs, membership structure, and would have to sign off on any contacts contracts over $22,000.
