PHOTO: Expanding the scope of primary care nurses is an important objective of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce to help relieve pressure from hospitals and improve access to care in rural and regional areas.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, has described the current Medicare system as being in the worst shape it’s ever been in 40 years.
This claim, prompted by a six year period of frozen Medicare rebates that have caused climbing gap fees, long waiting periods and stressed emergency departments, has led to concrete plans to ‘overhaul’ the current system – and nurses, in particular, are cheering.
“For too long, Medicare has failed to properly use and recognise the expert skills of nurses, Australia’s largest health profession, a move that has placed the health of Australians at great risk,” said the Australian College of Nursing’s CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN…