Use of chronic disease management and allied health Medicare services

The use of GPMP and TCAs services increased steadily over the last decade^[1] (Figure 8). For GPMP, the rate of patients claiming doubled from 52 per 1,000 population in 2010 to 105 per 1,000 population in 2018. The rate remained the same in 2018 and 2019 and then similar in 2020 (106 per 1,000 population). A similar claiming pattern is noted for TCAs, increasing from 2010 to 2018 (42 compared with 89 per 1,000 population), remaining the same in 2019, then similar in 2020 (91 per 1,000 population). 2020 is when telehealth services were introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These have been included in the count of services in 2020 (See Data Table 1.8).

The Health Care Homes^[2] trial began in October 2017, with patient enrolment extended in December 2018 up until 30 June 2019. The program ceased on 30 June 2021. Under Health Care Homes, over 10,000 patients in 10 PHNs received coordinated and innovative patient-centred care for their chronic and complex health conditions (Department of Health 2021). The Health Care Homes program may have contributed to the pattern of claiming observed between 2018 and 2019. Additional time points are needed to determine whether the pattern persists and understand what the possible reasons may be.

Figure 8: Patients who had a GPMP or TCA service (per 1,000 population), 2010 to 2020

Notes

1. Age-standardised to the 2001 Australian standard population.
2. Includes MBS items: 721, 723, 229 and 230.

Source: AIHW analysis of MBS data maintained by the Department of Health and Aged Care and Aged Care and sourced from Services Australia (Data Table 1.8).

[1] The GP Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) care planning items were removed from the MBS in 2005 and replaced by the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items (721-731). For more information see Department of Health and Aged Care | Removal of Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Terminology.

[2] A Health Care Home is a general practice or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) that coordinates care for patients with chronic and complex conditions. For more information see Health care homes.