HEALTH care groups across the Wimmera and Grampians region are yet to receive a federal cash pledge worth $1.4 million.
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A spokeswoman for Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the federal government has “refused” to pay more than $100 million owed to hospitals across Victoria from the 2015-16 financial period.
The spokeswoman said the federal government owed health care groups across the Wimmera $1,463,000 in funding.
Wimmera Health Care Group is owed the largest sum – totalling $594,000.
East Grampians and West Wimmera health services are owed up to $200,000 each.
The federal government owes Stawell Regional Health $165,000 while East Wimmera Health Service expects $149,000.
Rural Northest Health is expecting $109,000 and Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital is owed $41,000.
The spokeswoman said state government relied on federal government cash to help health care groups and so the funding levels could decrease if that reimbursement was not received.
She said decreased funding could affect everyday requirements at hospitals, such as x-rays and chemotherapy sessions.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the federal government had “failed” to reimburse the state government for “treating tens of thousands of extra patients”.
“Wimmera Health Care Group stands to lose almost $600,000 – while the wider Grampians region stands to lose $4.7 million. That’s the cost of 30 more nurses for the region – and they deserve better than that,” she said.
Ms Pulford said funding cuts created uncertainty for hospitals, who are trying to plan for future patient demand.
“Even though the independent administrator has provided advice that Victoria is owed this money, the federal government has refused to pay up. This is putting thousands of patients at risk,” she said.
An independent administrator advised the federal treasurer on the amount owed in April last year. The payment was to be reimbursed to state governments in July across installments every three months.
Ms Hennessy’s spokeswoman said health ministers across Australia were informed that the money would be delivered by the end of the 2017 calendar year – but the money has yet to be reimbursed.