Medicare Local After-Hours Program (MLAH)

After Hours Service Brochures

Geelong

Bellarine

Surfcoast

• Provide access to after -hours GP telephone advice when needed
• Ensure that local after -hours primary care services are well planned, coordinated and appropriate to community needs
• Ensure that appropriate primary care services are accessible when needed
• Ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate point of care for their condition
• Better supporting health professionals in the arrangement and/or provision of after -hours care for patients

Changes to the Australian Government current after-hours funding arrangements:

• Practice Incentives Program (PIP) After Hours Incentive:This payment to practices will cease from 1 July 2013. From this date the funding previously allocated to the PIP will be re-directed through Medicare Locals to implement their Stage 2 plans.
• General Practice After-Hours (GPAH) Program: Practices within the boundary of a Medicare Local can no longer apply for the GPAH grant.
• MBS items for after hours services: MBS rebates and billing arrangements will not be altered.

 Responsibilities of the Barwon Medicare Local:

• Undertake a needs assessment of current AH service provision locally and identify where gaps exist
• Map existing after hours service capacity in the region
• Develop and implement a plan to address priority gaps in after hours care
• Link local after- hours services with after-hours GP helpline
• Support health professionals and service providers to improve patient care during the after -hours period

Barwon Medicare Local MLAH program activities:

One of the first tasks for the Barwon Medicare Local has been to submit a proposal addressing 'Known After-Hours Gaps' in the region which will start to be implemented by January 2012. We have started consultation with a number of GPs and other stakeholders and have also collected and analysed some after-hours data. Based on this initial analysis of data and consultations, some of the activities that we will be implementing for our 'Known Gaps' Program in January include:

• Development and distribution of an after-hours resource with a focus on coastal regions and tourist accommodations which experience significant population increases over holiday periods.
• Working with Barwon Health to develop a communication plan within the ED to promote primary after-hours care options in the region.
• Working with General Practices to plan and implement strategies for uninterrupted after-hours service delivery.

Over the next 6 months the Barwon ML is also required to undertake a region-wide needs assessment into the provision of after-hours primary care and develop a regional after-hours plan. This process will involve extensive data analysis and consultation with all General Practices, key stakeholders and consumers.

We will be providing regular updates on this program in the Weekly News but if you would like any further information please don't hesitate to contact Natalie Virgo-Milton or Sue Riches at the Barwon Medicare Local, 5229 1922.