Joint Health Command

ADF Family Health
INFORMATION FOR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

Page updated 19 November, 2009

Thank you for visiting the official website for the ADF Family Health initiative.

This initiative recognises the service and sacrifices of our Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families (dependants), and the difficulties many Defence families experience accessing affordable healthcare upon relocation. The initiative also recognises that to support members within the ADF, their families need to be cared for, and this initiative aims to improve the retention and recruitment of our Defence force.

A trial will be conducted in 8 regional and remote locations.

Stage 1 of the trial commenced 1 May 2009 in the following locations:

• Sale (VIC),
• Singleton (NSW),
• Cairns including Thursday Island, Mt Isa and Weipa (QLD),
• Katherine (NT) including Derby (WA) and
• the Pilbara region including Karratha, Port Hedland, Carnarvon, Newman, Exmouth and Tom Price (WA).

Stage 2 of the trial is expected to commence in October 2009 and will include:

• Townsville (QLD),
• Darwin including Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy (NT) and Broome and Kununurra (WA); and
• Puckapunyal (VIC).

In formulating a model for delivery of basic medical services to ADF families, Joint Health Command (JHC) within the Department of Defence, has consulted with both the Australian General Practice Network and each of the Divisions of General Practice within the Stage 1 trial areas. Defence has also welcomed feedback from medical practitioners in the targeted regions, and has worked hard to address concerns raised.

In response to these concerns, the proposed model for basic medical would see doctors who participate in the trial paid $19 for each registered dependant visit when bulk-billing eligible item numbers. Medicare Australia will administer the ADF Family Health Program Payment on behalf of the Department of Defence. Payments will be automatically generated when a registered dependant is bulk-billed for an eligible item/s, and these payments will be made by Medicare Australia on a monthly basis. The first payment, however, will not occur until July 2009. This payment is in addition to any other incentives you may be entitled to for seeing a patient. ADF dependants accessing medical benefits under this trial will be expected to present their ADF Family Health Card. The Guidelines and the Quick Guide is a useful resource.

Participating medical practitioners will receive a statement to be issued by Medicare Australia to support payments. A sample of this statement will be provided upon registration in the trial.

The support of medical practitioners in each of the targeted regions is critical to the success of this project. To assist you with your decision, a series of frequently asked questions has been provided. If you should have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.