“Not only will a Coalition Government deliver a Medicare funded MRI licence for the south west, it will also make it easier for people to access this important diagnostic tool,” said Liberal candidate for Wannon, Dan Tehan.
MEDIA RELEASE
6 August 2010
FURTHER GOOD MRI NEWS FOR SOUTH WEST VICTORIA
“Not only will a Coalition Government deliver a Medicare funded MRI licence for the south west, it will also make it easier for people to access this important diagnostic tool,” said Liberal candidate for Wannon, Dan Tehan.
“In a further win for our region the Coalition has announced it will improve diagnosis and treatment times by implementing general practice referrals for MRI. These referrals currently have to be made by a specialist,” said Mr Tehan.
“A Coalition Government will ensure the people of Wannon have better access to after hours care, more preventative health care and better chronic disease management.”
Mr Tehan said “These $833 million worth of initiatives will reduce pressure on public hospital emergency departments by better utilising GP services around the country.”
“The COAG Reform Council reported that 42.5 per cent of all work in emergency departments is from patients who could have seen a GP.
“The Coalition will invest $165 million to encourage more GP clinics to remain open after hours and on weekends.
“We will boost Medicare to support GPs providing better chronic and complex care by providing $350 million to increase rebates for longer GP consultations,” said Mr Tehan.
The Coalition will invest in Medicare rebates for practice nurses by committing $115 million to increase and expand related rebates. Practice nurses provide valuable additional clinical care for patients, particularly those with complex needs.
“In addition to this $835 million investment, we will maintain the $437 million of support for practice nurses that the Rudd-Gillard Government plans to strip out of Medicare for these services.
The Coalition will also provide $200 million for GP Infrastructure Grants.
“Existing GP clinics will be able to apply for grants of up to $250,000 for projects such as rooms for additional doctors and training, expansion of multidisciplinary care, including practice nurses, and extending after hours opening times.”
“The Coalition believes in working with GPs to better support and extend existing services, not set up government-run clinics in competition with them,” concluded Mr Tehan.
ENDS
Contact Dan Tehan: 0400 376 635
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