Who is leading the change
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
The Victorian Government, through the Council of Australian Governments, encourage the Commonwealth Government to consider a Medicare item number for family violence counselling and therapeutic services distinct from a general practitioner mental health treatment plan. In the longer term consideration should be given to establishing a Medicare item number or a similar mechanism that will allow medical practitioners to record a family violence–related consultation or procedure and so more accurately ascertain the public cost of family violence.
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The Commonwealth Government has been encouraged to consider a Medicare item for family violence counselling in recognition of its importance for a victim’s recovery. The Victorian Government will continue to show strong leadership on access to health care for victims of family violence and will encourage the Commonwealth to consider policy and funding alternatives to improve the capacity of the primary healthcare system to respond to family violence.
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While this recommendation has been implemented, we are continuing to support continues to be shown for work that will to improve the capacity of the primary healthcare system to respond to family violence, increasing access to counselling, and exploring options to improve data collection about family violence in general practice.
- Implemented.
Reviewed 17 May 2020