Restructuring primary health care in Australia

When appropriately resourced, medical homes can deliver the system-wide benefits of truly integrated primary care

For patients with chronic and complex conditions, optimal care involves a range of clinical skills other than those provided by doctors (eg, a social worker, a clinical nurse specialist or a home care team), some of which are generally not available through Medicare. Patients experience fracturing of their care — such as the need to obtain referrals to consult other health practitioners — and significant out-of-pocket expenses, on which Australians spent around $27.5 billion dollars in 2013–14.1