By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK Council will continue the fight to bring Medicare to the municipality, after a report revealed residents were in urgent need of greater access to the health service.
The council will make a submission to the Federal Government and Medicare Australia, calling for a Medicare office to be established in St Albans as a matter of urgency.
The submission will include a petition signed by almost 800 residents who say they are frustrated at having to travel to Airport West or Highpoint to collect on their claims. Following a councillor resolution in July last year, council officers began compiling information to support their submission and a report was tabled at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
The report found that between January 2006 and August 2008 Brimbank residents made more than 3 million claims for Medicare services, the majority of which related to GP visits.
The submission also said the municipality was expecting an increase of 17,000 people in the next 20 years, with a significant growth in the aged population.
Taylors Ward councillor Margaret Giudice said many Brimbank residents were forced to wait to claim back money they desperately needed.
“Many GPs don’t bulk bill and so residents have to hold on to hundreds of dollars in medical bills,” Cr Giudice said.
“That money is often needed for other things like grocery bills.
“We urgently need a Medicare office in Brimbank to give residents better access to these services.”
The council will also write to local Federal and State Government members to urge them to join in the campaign.
