News

Marrabinya is a program to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people through better access to coordinated and multidisciplinary care, and improve access to culturally appropriate mainstream primary care services. Aboriginal people with a diagnosed chronic disease can be referred to Marrabinya by their GP for assistance with specialist appointments, transport, accommodation, and medical aids.Maari Ma Health is funded to provide this program by the Western NSW PHN. For further information on the program please visit the Maari Ma Health Website.

Marrabinya has been operating in our region since 1 November 2016, so most General Practitioners by now are familiar with the service and its referral criteria.

General Practitioners will be pleased to know that Marrabinya recently reviewed and extended its referral criteria to include Aboriginal people experiencing chronic liver disease.

Marrabinya is a brokerage service funded by the WNSWPHN under the Commonwealth Governments Integrated Team Care (ITC) program. The service provides support to general practice to improve access to multidisciplinary care for Aboriginal people with a chronic disease (planned scheduled care as outlined by the treating GP in the patients GP Management Plan).

Referral criteria:

• Aboriginal person
• Patient over 15 years
• Patient resides in Western NSW PHN region
• Patient has diagnosed chronic disease: CVD, Diabetes, CRD, CKD, CLD, Cancer
• CTG registered
• GPMP in place
• GP referral is complete and the GPs instructions are clear with regards to what brokerage service is being requested by the GP
• ’Out of scope’ referrals will be considered based on the referring GPs assessment of clinical need and extenuating circumstances, including the patients social and emotional wellbeing.

Services Marrabinya can cover:

• Gap fees associated with health appointments
• Travel and accommodation costs to enable the patient to attend out of town health appointments
• Webster packs
• Medical aids e.g. assisted breathing, mobility aids, medical footwear
• Other supplementary services associated with planned scheduled care as outlined in the patients GPMP.

Services Marrabinya doesn’t cover:

• Brokerage services for patients living in residential aged care; Home modifications
• Brokerage services for patients with access to another funding package or assistance program (e.g. My Aged care, NDIS) where the service required can be covered by their existing package/program
• Non PBS medication (OTC e.g. Caltrate, can be considered under our ‘out of scope’ process
• Oxygen concentrators (covered under Enable NSW)
• Equipment that is not clinically necessary
• Emergency / crisis support (48 hours required due to focus on CDM planned scheduled care)
• Travel and /or accommodation for family members to visit patients in hospital
• Travel and /or accommodation for family members who are not travelling with a patient in the capacity as an escort (to attend out of town health appointments).

Find out more

GP’s who’d like to know more about Marrabinya should contact the centralised intake number 1800 940 757 and ask to speak with Service Manager Donna Jeffries. Donna regularly travels throughout the region and is available to visit interested practices to explain the service in more detail and address any queries / issues / suggestions for improvement.