THE Federal Government has expanded the Deadly Choices preventative care program to help improve health outcomes for First Nations people.
Delivered by the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health, Deadly Choices encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to complete annual health checks at their local Community Controlled Health Service.
The $3.5 million expansion will see major sporting events promoting the initiative, like the Australian Open, basketball, netball, rugby league and AFL.
First Nations sports stars, including Patty Mills, will support the healthcare campaign through social media platforms.
The program aims to increase participation in Medicare-funded health assessments, helping detect and treat conditions early.
The rollout begins with nine additional Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services in NSW, ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule item 715 health check was specifically designed to allow early detection, diagnosis and intervention for common and treatable conditions that are major contributors to First Nations illness and early deaths.
The proportion of First Nations people undertaking a 715 health check peaked at 28.8% in 2018-19 and dropped for three years.
While recent trends have been positive, the overall number of First Nations people receiving a health check still remains low.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 27 Sep 24
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 27 Sep 24
