Access to ‘right’ health services

A federal budget submission by the Australian Medicare Locals (AML) Alliance has called for an investment of more than $600 million over three to four years to “keep people out of hospital and well”.

The Alliance’s submission proposes to:

• streamline a comprehensive approach to detecting a patient’s risk of chronic disease by implementing a prevention, early detection and intervention approach to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease by applying Absolute Risk guidelines and assessment tools in one single assessment; and

• implement a national network of chronic disease care coordinators to improve peoples’ access to prevention programs or multidisciplinary care [$130 million per annum over four years].

AML Alliance chair, Dr Arn Sprogis, said the advantages of the Medicare Local system for primary health care is in their population health approach which offers a far more efficient and effective way to achieve better health outcomes for communities.

“This budget submission also reflects investments in primary health care that are about keeping people well and out of hospital,” Dr Sprogis said.

“Despite having one of the world’s highest life expectancies, the burden of disease associated with chronic disease will inevitably place an unsustainable strain on Australia’s health system. Population health strategies and programs, delivered through Medicare Locals, which tackle these conditions are the way to go.”

By delivering a comprehensive approach to chronic disease risk, based on the Absolute Risk guidelines, Dr Sprogis believed the benefits would include:

• evidencebased health assessments that cover a range of conditions, which is more convenient for patients;
• a simpler process for practices and reduced red tape; and
• an easier referral process for patients to gain access to appropriate health prevention programs.

“To complement this risk assessment process and to ensure there is ‘follow through’ for patients, embedding chronic disease care coordinators in Medicare Locals will significantly improve patients’ access to the right services and to help patients to selfmanage their chronic disease,” Dr Sprogis said.

“Selfmanagement should not be underestimated in terms of its impact on the health system because it enables people to stay out of hospital longer and manage their care closer to home.”

The AML Alliance’s federal budget submission also identified the importance of childhood development and getting the nation’s new generations off to a healthy start.