Commonwealth initiatives

Based on the recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and building on Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022-2032, several significant funding initiatives for primary healthcare were announced in the May 2023 Federal budget. These include changes to MBS funding and additional blended funding payments that will come through the MyMedicare program.

For more information:

• Commonwealth budget initiatives summary (Aug 2023)
• Department of Health and Aged Care’s website
• 60-day prescriptions – PBS medicines and current item codes
• MyMedicare webpage

Initiatives

• Wound Care – Chronic wound consumables scheme and scholarships

  The development of a chronic wound consumables program, and educational scholarships, were announced in last year’s federal budget, as one of the Strengthening Medicare initiatives for increasing access to primary care. The wound program, which will start on 1 May 2025, is for people with a chronic wound and diabetes aged 65 and older, or 50 and older for First Nations Peoples.

  The scholarships are for primary care nurses and Aboriginal health workers to equip them with the critical skills needed to tackle complex wound management, enhance patient recovery, and reduce hospital stays.

  The Australian College of Nursing has been selected as the scholarship provider, with the following offerings:

  • Practical Short Courses: Master the skills needed for immediate impact in wound treatments. Open now.
  • Graduate Certificates: Deepen your understanding of effective wound care strategies. Open in 2025.
  • Masters of Wound Care: Become a thought leader in wound care education and clinical practice. Open in 2025.

  Learn more and apply for a short course.

  Murray PHN will provide updates as they are received.
• Strengthening Medicare – General practice grants program

  The Australian Government is investing $220 million in grants over two years through the Strengthening Medicare – General Practice Grants Program, to help general practices and eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to expand patient access and improve services.

  The grants are supporting investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works in one or more of the three investment streams of: enhancing digital health capability (guidance document); upgrading infection prevention and control arrangements and maintaining or achieving accreditation.

  Between April and June 2023 one-off grants of either $25,000, $35,000 or $50,000 were available to each eligible general practice and ACCHO (applications were available through NACCHO gpgrants@naccho.org.au) based on their practice size and accreditation status: as per the RACGP definition for the purposes of practice accreditation against the Standards for General Practices (5th edition), that operates within the model of general practice, provide services predominantly* of a general practice nature and is capable of meeting all mandatory indicators in the RACGP Standards.

  The program will end on 30 June 2024, with evaluations due by 31 July 2024.

For more information or support

Email gpsupport@murrayphn.org.au noting that Murray PHN will continue to share details and advise of the support available as information is received.