The Heart Foundation has praised the Australian Government’s decision to extend Medicare funding for Heart Health Checks for an additional three years, ensuring the service will continue through to June 30, 2028.
Health Minister Mark Butler made the announcement, securing continued support for this vital service aimed at reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A Medicare Heart Health Check is a 20-minute appointment with a GP, designed to assess an individual’s risk of heart attack or stroke. Based on the results, the GP works with the patient to create a personalized plan to manage and reduce risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
First introduced in 2019 after strong advocacy from the Heart Foundation and the wider heart health sector, the Heart Health Checks have now helped over 870,000 people. These checks have already saved many lives, including that of Queensland resident Pete Marnock, 59.
In 2022, Mr. Marnock’s routine Heart Health Check with his GP revealed signs of severe heart issues, leading to life-saving bypass and valve repair surgery. “At my check-up, the doctor listened to my heart and said it sounded ‘noisy.’ He knew something wasn’t right,” Mr. Marnock recalled. “He told me I had the ‘widowmaker’ heart condition, and I wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been caught in time.”
Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd welcomed the funding extension, highlighting the importance of these checks in preventing heart disease. “We’re deeply grateful to Health Minister Mark Butler and the Australian Government for this critical extension,” Mr. Lloyd said. “Heart disease is often undetected until it’s too late. Stories like Pete’s show just how crucial these checks can be. We encourage all eligible Australians to talk to their GP about having a Heart Health Check.”
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