Nukal Murra Alliance

The NMSS operates as a patient-focused service, intended as a last resort option after all other alternative programs have been exhausted. Services include:

• Gap fees associated with health appointments e.g., allied health, specialist appointments;
• Travel and accommodation to attend health appointments;
• Assisted breathing equipment – asthma spacers, nebulisers, CPAP & CPAP accessories;
• Blood Sugar/Glucose Monitoring Equipment;
• Medical footwear prescribed and fitted by a Podiatrist;
• Mobility aids; and
• Spectacles.

NMSS is not designed to address crisis or acute issues. To effectively manage referrals, a minimum notice period of 48 hours is required to review, assess, and respond, as well as to arrange or procure agreed-upon services.

NMSS is available for Indigenous patients who live in the WQPHN region and have a diagnosed chronic disease. There is no cost to the patient for services provided by NMSS.
NMSS prioritises the coordination of scheduled, planned care well in advance, with a focus on the key lifestyle diseases causing excess mortality and morbidity:

• Cancer;
• Cardiovascular disease;
• Chronic kidney disease;
• Chronic respiratory disease;
• Diabetes; and
• Mental Health.

Exceptional circumstances that do not fit the eligibility criteria will be considered on a case by case basis.

Patients are referred to NMSS by their usual treating doctor and need to have a current GP Management Plan (GPMP).  Services include:

• Gap fees associated with health appointments e.g., allied health, specialist appointments
• Travel and accommodation to attend health appointments
• Assisted breathing equipment – Asthma Spacers, Nebulisers, CPAP & CPAP Accessories,
• Blood Sugar/Glucose Monitoring Equipment
• Medical footwear prescribed and fitted by a Podiatrist
• Mobility aids
• Spectacles.

NMSS is not designed to address crisis or acute issues. To effectively manage referrals, a minimum notice period of 48 hours is required to review, assess, and respond, as well as to arrange or procure agreed-upon services.

Nukal Murra will provide these services, if documented as a need in patients’ GPMP and where they are not available under other programs.

Referring Doctors need to be aware:

• Nukal Murra focuses on organising schedule planned care in advance
• We require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice to review, assess, respond to your referrals and arrange / purchase agreed services
• Nukal Murra is not set up to address crisis/acute issues
• The service is for patients, not carers
• Doctors should utilise EPC items in the first instance to refer patients for allied health services and refer to Nukal Murra after exhausting EPC appointments
• Patients referred for assistance with CPAP equipment may be assisted only after prerequisite sleep study and diagnosis are completed
• Nukal Murra should be seen as a program for last resort after all alternative programs have been exhausted.