Free Medicare chronic wound care scheme starts for older Australians

Fully subsidised wound care products will be provided for people aged 65 and over.

The Australian government has announced the launch of the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) for older individuals with diabetes.

The CWCS will provide fully subsidised wound care products for people aged 65 and over who do not have access to other wound care schemes.

Meanwhile, the scheme is available to First Nations people aged 50 and over, who are disproportionately affected by diabetes and chronic wounds.

Most patients currently pay the full cost, around $2,593 (A$4,000) each year, for their wound consumable products, such as bandages, dressings and adhesives, according to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.

“We’ve built this programme based on data that shows older Australians with diabetes are the most likely to suffer from chronic wounds,” Butler added.

Eligible healthcare professionals can now enrol patients using an online portal and order wound consumable products to be delivered to a patient’s home or sent to themselves at no cost.

A$1 = $0.65