The role and function of the Medicare Local National Body

Medicare Locals represent a significant reform of Australia's in the current primary health care system. For all Medicare Locals to evolve into high performing organisations, it will be important for Medicare Locals to be supported at the national level. The transition of Medicare Locals from existing primary health care organisations such as Divisions of General Practice into new organisations, with broader roles, will require significant national and local change management. Medicare Locals will also need support to ensure they are able to meet their objectives.

A National Body will be established to assist Medicare Locals to function effectively and efficiently, to achieve their objectives and to work as a cohesive network that can be responsive to evolving Commonwealth priorities.

The Commonwealth is responsible for managing the establishment and ongoing operation of Medicare Locals. The National Body will work closely with the Commonwealth to disseminate information and guidance to the Medicare Local network as a whole and also work closely with Medicare Locals to lead and support them so that they can achieve their objectives.

The National Body will have responsibility for coordination, capacity building and sharing of best practice across the Medicare Local network. It will operate at the interface between Medicare Locals and the Commonwealth and will assist the Commonwealth in the dissemination of information and direction to Medicare Locals and in standard setting, monitoring and compliance for Medicare Locals. The National Body will be required to build effective relationships across the primary health care sector including general practitioners, allied health professionals and consumers, as well as other health sectors such as the acute care sector and aged care sector.

In the first instance, the National Body will have a coordination and capacity building function providing national support to Medicare Locals. Over time, the role of the National Body may change as the Medicare Local Network evolves and builds capacity.

The National Body will be established as an independent company limited by guarantee, reporting to the Commonwealth. It is expected governance arrangements for the National Body will reflect the objectives, roles and functions of the National Body and promote linkages across the spectrum of health care providers and related organisations. Governance arrangements will also reflect the spectrum of primary health care providers and consumers and will include appropriate mechanisms in which the National Body can draw on the knowledge and expertise of these groups.

The Commonwealth will manage the performance of the National Body through a funding agreement.

The objectives, roles and functions of the National Body include:

1. To act as a lead change agent for the Medicare Local network, including:
   1. To operate at the interface between Medicare Locals and the Commonwealth assisting in the dissemination of policy directions, instructions and information from the Commonwealth to Medicare Locals.
   2. Assist in the integration of Medicare Locals with Local Hospital Networks (LHNs).
   3. Assist the Commonwealth to monitor, evaluate and build evidence in relation to primary health care strategies, programs and services.
   4. Establish relationships and communication pathways across the primary health care sector, creating an opportunity for consultation and information exchange across the Medicare Local network, general practitioners, allied health professionals and consumers.
   5. Promote integration with other parts of the health system including the acute care sector, aged care sector and the social care sector.
   6. Assist in the identification of opportunities to evolve the direction of Medicare Locals to align with national policy needs.
   7. Generate policy and program solutions for consideration by the Commonwealth and assist in the roll out of new network wide approaches.
   8. Develop and support the Medicare Locals brand across service providers.
2. To support Medicare Local performance, including:
   1. Assist Medicare Locals to achieve the Medicare Local strategic objectives as outlined in the Medicare Local Guidelines for the establishment and initial operation of Medicare Locals.
   2. Assist Medicare Locals in transitioning to the new arrangements.
   3. Encourage a culture of interprofessional learning and support for multidisciplinary teams and practice improvement.
   4. Implement organisational development strategies including expertise development in key areas of core Medicare Local business.
   5. Support the planning for systems innovation, program and service development, for example, supporting eHealth, information management and data capture and analysis to develop and deliver an effective eHealth system.
   6. Assist the Commonwealth to facilitate negotiated solutions to disputes within, or between Medicare Locals.
   7. Assist the Commonwealth in the development and promotion of a performance (excellence and improvement) culture, including evaluation.

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