Media Release: EMPHN welcomes Health Care Homes trial ahead of national roll out

26 August, 2016

Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN) welcomes the announcement from the Federal Government of ten trial sites for Health Care Homes ahead of the planned national roll out of the program. EMPHN’s southern neighbour, South East Melbourne PHN (SEMPHN) has been selected as one of the trial sites. $120 million will be spent on the trials which will commence in July 2017 and run until June 2019. 
 
Health Care Homes encapsulates an approach to providing patients with chronic illness a coordinated health care team, led by their GP.
 
Martin Wilkinson, EMPHN Executive Director Primary Care Services, said much could be learnt from the trial site in south eastern Melbourne. 
 
'Having a Health Care Home trial rolling out next door provides a learning opportunity for us as we develop our own approach to the Health Care Home model in eastern and north eastern Melbourne.
 
'This program will move away from the current Medicare fee-for-service model and will allow health care teams to provide tailored care when the patient needs it. It will be very effective in preventing health deterioration and avoidable hospital admissions.' 
 
More information: Australian Department of Health