News: After Hours Redevelopment Project The After Hours Redevelopment Project is the first project for Medicare Locals in which a needs analysis to identify gaps in after hours care is undertaken which will inform a stage one plan to implement solutions. The aim is to provide support and resources to existing services, not to create a seperate Medicare Local after hours service. The After Hours PIP factsheet outlines the changes to the After Hours Practice Incentive Payment and includes a link to provide your feedback via a short survey. Responses to the survey will both inform the needs analysis and assist us in planning for stage two in which a second needs analysis will be undertaken prior to a plan to coincide with the PIP change. 2011-212 Annual Plan and Information Session Presentation now available The Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local 2011-212 Annual Plan, which details our organisational structure, strategic objectives and activities is now available. Information and consultation sessions were recently held and attended by a number of stakeholders from private allied health, community health services, aged residential care and local government. The presentation is now available to download. • Download the IEMMl Annual Plan (PDF 591KB) • Download the Information Session Presentation (PDF 867KB) Announcement Following the Extraordinary General Meeting on 13 September 2011, the Melbourne East GP Network has formally transitioned to become the Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local (IEMML). During the initial transition period, our focus will be to find the best ways to build upon our existing strengths, expertise and partnerships to better service our community. As the IEMML, our main goal will be to bring together GPs and other primary health care professionals to deliver for our patients: the right care, in the right place, at the right time. What are Medicare Locals? On the 17th June 2011, the Federal Minister for Health, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP announced that the Melbourne East GP Network was one of four Victorian organisations to successfully become a Medicare Local.
The Melbourne East GP Network will establish the Inner East Melbourne Medical Local and will service the municipalities of Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse and Monash. The Australian Government is establishing a national network of Medicare Locals as part of its National Health Reform. Medicare Locals will be primary health care organisations established to coordinate primary health care delivery and tackle local health care needs and service gaps. They will drive improvements in primary health care and ensure that services are better tailored to meet the needs of local communities. While Government funded, Medicare Locals will be independent organisations and are not government bodies. Medicare Locals are not part of Medicare Australia and have no involvement in the processing of refunds or transactions.
What is the structure of the Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local? Under the IEMML organisational structure, our existing GP members will transition to become stakeholder members. A new skills based Board with nine Directors will be appointed by an independent nominations committee. The initial Board will comprise four GPs. There is a requirement that no one group has a majority. Reference and Lead Clinician Groups will be established to provide input to the Board from clinicians in the local area. Under the constitution the Board is obliged to regard the advice of these groups. Our structure aims to provide not only effective corporate governance, but also foster interagency coordination and communication between GPs, private allied health professionals and other primary healthcare service providers. • Download the MEPGN Constitution (PDF 621KB) • Download the Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local Organisational Structure (PDF 187KB) • Download the Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local Membership Eligibility Criteria (PDF 56KB) • Download the Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local Board and Executive Team (PDF 118KB) Stakeholder Membership Any private allied health providers registered with the Australian Health Practioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or who have an MBS provider number, relevant primary healthcare and community organisations can apply to become stakeholder members. IEMML is seeking a broad range of members from allied private health, hospitals, community health, local government, primary care partnerships, local health networks, tertiary education sector and other relevant non government and government bodies. Membership to IEMML is free. We encourage you to become a member if you want to be involved in working with us to better plan, develop and deliver primary health care in our region. Some of the benefits of becoming a stakeholder member include: • Access to our education events • Participation in reference groups • Networks and referral linkages • Access to information about health reform and population health data • Access to our newsletter