Medicare-funded heart health checks are set to expire on 30 June unless the government intervenes. And the Heart Foundation wants your help to ensure it does.
It is urging all Australians to sign its petition and/or write to your local MP.
Heart Foundation healthcare programs manager Natalie Raffoul says the checks are the only Medicare-subsidised checks specific to the early detection and prevention of heart disease.
“The checks involve a holistic assessment of heart disease risk factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes status, family history, diet and exercise.
“The Heart Health Check is available to anyone aged 45 or over (30 and over if First Nations) and it’s currently the only Medicare preventative health check for Australians aged 50 to 74.
“This age group represents more than half of the individuals hospitalised for coronary heart disease each year. If the check is removed, it would jeopardise prevention efforts in this high-risk group.”
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