Editing Medicare (Australia) (section)

==== Health Care Homes and MyMedicare ====
9000 patients were involved in the ''Health Care Homes'' trial held from 2017 to 2021, where patients could opt in to register to a 'home' general practice or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service which would be funded to deliver chronic disease care under a fee-for-performance basis instead of fee-for-service.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Health care homes |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2018/May/Health_care_homes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223032938/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2018/May/Health_care_homes |archive-date=23 December 2022 |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> The trial ended in 2021 and was not renewed.

Evaluation of the trial found that patients had greater engagement with general practice and improved influenza vaccination rates, but did not result in improved blood pressure or blood sugar control. There was little impact on the financial burden of health care on patients, however some general practices had greater financial outcomes compared to fee-for-service arrangements. The cost of the scheme to the federal government increased compared to baseline; however, the evaluation report theorised that long-term models had potential to reduce overall costs to both the government and individuals. The model of care was generally well received by general practice staff, however GPs and practice administrators felt that the burden of administration of the scheme, as well as funding caps imposed on the trials, impaired its success.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2022 |title=Health Care Homes trial final evaluation report |url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/08/evaluation-of-the-health-care-homes-trial-final-evaluation-report-2022-main-report.pdf |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=[[Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia)|Department of Health and Aged Care]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Hayley |last2=Best |first2=Megan |last3=Mitchell |first3=Geoffrey |date=2019-12-01 |title=Health Care Homes and whole-person care: A qualitative study of general practitioners' views |url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/december/health-care-homes-and-whole-person-care |journal=Australian Journal of General Practice |volume=48 |issue=12 |pages=867–874 |doi=10.31128/AJGP-05-19-4932|pmid=31774992 }}</ref>

The [[2023 Australian federal budget]] (ALP) established ''MyMedicare''.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Budget 2023–⁠24: Building a stronger Medicare |url=https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/budget-2023-24-building-a-stronger-medicare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015148/https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/budget-2023-24-building-a-stronger-medicare |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref> Similar to the Health Care Homes trial, MyMedicare aims to create a stronger relationship between patients and their main primary health provider, initiated by voluntary registration by patients with a single general practitioner of their choice. Patients taking up the scheme are eligible for additional Medicare benefits for longer telehealth sessions with GPs, and have access to expanded bulk-billed telehealth services if they are in certain targeted groups. MyMedicare participants are also eligible for more Medicare funded services if they frequently attend hospitals or reside in aged care facilities.<ref name="y370">{{cite web | title=Information for MyMedicare patients | website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care | date=2024-05-28 | url=https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/patients#benefits | access-date=2024-07-10 | archive-date=29 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015149/https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/patients#benefits | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="l390">{{cite web | title=Information for MyMedicare general practices and healthcare providers | website=Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care | date=2024-05-13 | url=https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/practices-and-providers#benefits | access-date=2024-07-10 | archive-date=29 January 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129015150/https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/mymedicare/practices-and-providers#benefits | url-status=live }}</ref>