The ACT Division of General Practice has today submitted its application to become the ACT Medicare Local, under the Commonwealth Government’s national health reform agenda.
ACTDGP is confident the establishment of an ACT Medicare Local will enhance primary health care in the ACT, through:
- The facilitation of allied health care and other support for people with chronic conditions.
- Working closely with local health care professionals to ensure services are integrated so patients can easily access the services they need.
- Working to ensure the availability of after hours services in the ACT.
- Identifying groups of people missing out on GP and primary health care or services that a local area needs, and respond to those gaps by better targeting services.
- Working with Local Hospital Networks to assist with the transition of patients out of hospital and, if required, into aged care.
- Delivering health promotion and preventive health programs to communities with identified risk factors.
ACTDGP President Dr Rashmi Sharma said the application is a significant step forward in unifying primary health care in the ACT, and looks forward to bridging service gaps experienced by our patients.
“The main goal of the ACT Medicare Local is to bring together primary health care professionals and organisations to deliver quality services to the ACT population,” Dr Sharma said.
In support of the application, ACTDGP received backing from a wide range of primary health care organisations.
"ACTDGP looks forward to serving the ACT community as its Medicare Local come July 1 2011," Dr Sharma said.