(a) Strategic Vision for After Hours Funding Please outline, in no more than 500 words, an overview of the PHN’s strategic vision for the 24 month period covering this Activity Work Plan that demonstrates how the PHN will achieve the After Hours key objectives of: increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of After Hours Primary Health Care for patients, particularly those with limited access to Health Services; and improving access to After Hours Primary Health Care through effective planning, coordination and support for population based After Hours Primary Health Care. In 2016-17 and onwards, your organisation is required to: Implement innovative and locally-tailored solutions for after hours services, based on community need; and Work to address gaps in after hours service provision. Please note, although PHNs can plan for activities in the 2017-18 financial year, at this stage, current funding for PHNs After Hours is confirmed until 30 June 2017 only. PHNs must not commit to spend any part of the funding beyond 30 June 2017. Response After-hours primary health care for people in the community (i.e. not in-patients of hospitals) has historically been provided by General Practitioners (GPs) funded by incentives and grants through the Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Australian Government Department of Health (DH) and until 30 June 2015, Medicare Locals. Additionally, and separate to incentives and grants, rebates for after-hours consultations are funded through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). MBS billing applies to services provided after 8.00pm on a weekday, all day Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. On 1 July 2015 DHS resumed funding to general practice for after-hours primary care services through the Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) scheme. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are funded by DH to increase efficiencies and effectiveness of after-hours primary care. The PIP After Hours Incentive supports general practices to provide patients with appropriate access to medical care during the after-hours period. General practices are eligible for one of five payments valued between $1.00 and $11.00, calculated on their annual patient total dependent on the level of after-hours service they choose to provide plus a loading payment of 20-50 percent. Gippsland PHN’s After Hours Program will address gaps in after-hours service arrangements and improve service integration.
(a) Strategic Vision for After Hours Funding Please outline, in no more than 500 words, an overview of the PHN’s strategic vision for the 24 month period covering this Activity Work Plan that demonstrates how the PHN will achieve the After Hours key objectives of: increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of After Hours Primary Health Care for patients, particularly those with limited access to Health Services; and improving access to After Hours Primary Health Care through effective planning, coordination and support for population based After Hours Primary Health Care. In 2016-17 and onwards, your organisation is required to: Implement innovative and locally-tailored solutions for after hours services, based on community need; and Work to address gaps in after hours service provision. Please note, although PHNs can plan for activities in the 2017-18 financial year, at this stage, current funding for PHNs After Hours is confirmed until 30 June 2017 only. PHNs must not commit to spend any part of the funding beyond 30 June 2017. Response After-hours primary health care for people in the community (i.e. not in-patients of hospitals) has historically been provided by General Practitioners (GPs) funded by incentives and grants through the Australian Government Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Australian Government Department of Health (DH) and until 30 June 2015, Medicare Locals. Additionally, and separate to incentives and grants, rebates for after-hours consultations are funded through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). MBS billing applies to services provided after 8.00pm on a weekday, all day Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. On 1 July 2015 DHS resumed funding to general practice for after-hours primary care services through the Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) scheme. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are funded by DH to increase efficiencies and effectiveness of after-hours primary care. The PIP After Hours Incentive supports general practices to provide patients with appropriate access to medical care during the after-hours period. General practices are eligible for one of five payments valued between $1.00 and $11.00, calculated on their annual patient total dependent on the level of after-hours service they choose to provide plus a loading payment of 20-50 percent. Gippsland PHN’s After Hours Program will address gaps in after-hours service arrangements and improve service integration.
Gippsland-PHN-CoreFlexAfterHours-Activity-Work-Plan-website-version.docx