View - LIME Network

Box 9.7.6(continued)• introduction of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access line (1800 number)for Medicare enquiries that is serviced by MLOs and their support staff• use of s.100 of the National Health Act 1953 (Cwth) to enable supply of PBSmedicines free, at the time of consultation to clients of eligible and approvedAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services in remote areas.A 2005-06 study was undertaken to examine the effectiveness of the initiativesimplemented to improve Indigenous peoples’ access to Medicare and the PBS. Someof the key findings included:• Medicare enrolments for Indigenous people have substantially increased —especially in the NT where more than 95 per cent of the Indigenous population arenow enrolled. This is in part due to a group of Medicare Liaison Officers who takeMedicare services directly to people living in more remote areas.• An increase in Medicare billing by ACCHs.• Section 100 arrangements have had at least two major benefits — increasingaccess to medications in remote areas and reducing the costs that many healthservices previously incurred in purchasing medicines for patients. Another positiveimpact of the s.100 arrangement has been the development of strongerrelationships between pharmacists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HealthServices.• The value in providing Indigenous health content in the formal education andtraining of doctors, nurses and other health professionals.The final report from the 2005-06 study made 38 recommendations on Indigenouspeoples’ access to major health programs (including hearing services, immunisation,point of care diabetes testing and the National Diabetes Services Scheme).Source: Urbis Keys Young 2006.Box 9.7.7‘Yarning about Mental Health’The Menzies School of Health Research has produced a new book which usespictures and traditional Aboriginal stories to identify and explain some of the causes,symptoms and treatments of mental health problems to people in their communities.The booklet, ‘Yarning about Mental Health’ was produced to address the need tocommunicate the complexities of mental health to individuals and Aboriginalcommunities in a way that they could easily relate back to their lifestyle, culture andenvironment.Source: Menzies School of Health Research 2006.FUNCTIONAL ANDRESILIENT FAMILIESAND COMMUNITIES