“It is essential to review chronic disease health care because the use of Chronic Disease Management Medicare items had grown by almost 17 per cent in 2013-14 compared to the previous year, with over $587.6 million worth of benefits paid for over 5.6 million services,

“We are committed to finding better ways to care for people with chronic and complex conditions and ensure they receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“This discussion is a real opportunity to cater for the increase in chronic and complex conditions and this approach ensures that health professionals and patients continue to be central to this process.”

Federal Minister for Health Sussan Ley

Consistent with the Abbott Government’s commitment to reforming primary health care, the government today released an options discussion paper ‘Better outcomes for people living Chronic and Complex Health Conditions through Primary Health Care’.

To access the discussion paper and supporting documents, fill out the consultation survey and to find a consultation near you go to:

DEPT of Health Website

Minister for Health Sussan Ley said the discussion paper considered possible reform options which would inform the government’s development of a healthier Medicare to support people with complex and chronic diseases and keep them out of hospital longer.

Ms Ley said options in the discussion paper included enrolling people to a single provider who would coordinate the multi-disciplinary care the patient received rather than the patient coordinating their care, set chronic disease payments for a defined package of care rather than individual services and international methods of best practice.

Ms Ley said the Primary Health Care Advisory Group, led by former AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton, had developed the discussion paper and canvassed a broad range of options to improve effective and appropriate patient-centred primary care.

The Primary Health Care Advisory Group would hold public consultations across Australia over the next month to finalise its recommendations to Government.

“I encourage all Australians including patients, health professionals and interested parties to look at the options included in the discussion paper and provide their feedback as we work hand-in-hand to deliver a primary health care system that better looks after Australians earlier,” Ms Ley said.

“This discussion paper sets out a number of suggestions to make Australia’s primary health care a better integrated and holistic system that considers the whole of a patient’s health care needs.

“Importantly, this independent advisory group is being led by clinicians and patient representatives and is conducting this discussion at arm’s length of government.

“I encourage all Australian’s to take part in this discussion and provide their thoughts on our primary care system as we work together to ensure it is providing the best care possible.”

Ms Ley said the Primary Health Care Advisory Group would seek feedback through an online survey, which will be open from Thursday 6 August until Thursday 3 September, and would conduct public consultations in Sydney, Western Sydney and Dubbo before moving on to Melbourne, Geelong, Hobart, Brisbane, Cairns, Rockhampton, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin, Perth and Broome.

Targeted consultations with groups such as the AMA, RACGP, Indigenous, rural and allied health groups, private health insurance and nursing sectors and consumers would also be held from today.

A nationwide webcast will be hosted on Friday, 21 August with participants able to log in and view the proceedings online.

Following the public consultation, the Primary Health Care Advisory Group will develop specific recommendations for Government by the end of the year.

Public Information Briefings

New South Wales

• Sydney – 6:00pm Monday 10 August 2015, Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
• Sydney – 11:00am Tuesday 11 August 2015, Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
• Western Sydney – 2:00pm Tuesday 11 August 2015, Rydges Hotel Parramatta, 116-118 James Ruse Drive, Rosehill
• Dubbo – 10:00am Wednesday 12 August 2015, Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre, 115 Darling Street, Dubbo

Victoria

• Melbourne – 2:00pm Wednesday 12 August 2015, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf Promenade, Melbourne
• Geelong – 9:00am Thursday 13 August 2015, Deakin University Geelong Waterfront Campus – John Hay Building, 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong

Tasmania

• Hobart – 3:00pm Friday 14 August 2015, Best Western Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart

Queensland

• Brisbane – 1:00pm Monday 10 August 2015, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cnr Merivale & Glenelg Streets Southbank, Brisbane
• Brisbane – 7:00pm Tuesday 11 August 2015, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Cnr Merivale & Glenelg Streets Southbank, Brisbane
• Cairns – 10:00am Thursday 13 August 2015, Mercure Hotel Harbourside, 209-217 The Esplanade, Cairns
• Rockhampton – 10:00am Friday 14 August 2015, Empire Apartment Hotel, 5 East Street, Rockhampton

South Australia

• Adelaide – 3:00pm Tuesday 18 August 2015, Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide South

Northern Territory

• Alice Springs – 2:00pm Wednesday 19 August 2015, Alice Springs Convention Centre, 93 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs
• Darwin – 4:00pm Thursday 20 August 2015, Rydges Hotel Palmerston, 15 Maluka Drive, Palmerston

Western Australia

• Perth – 3:30pm Tuesday 18 August 2015, Fraser Suites, 10 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
• Broome – 3:00pm Wednesday 19 August 2015, Mangrove Hotel, 47 Carnarvon Street Broome

Australian Capital Territory

• Canberra (Webcast) – 21 August 2015 (link to be published closer to event), Department of Education Canberra, Marcus Clarke Street Canberra