Annual Report - Outcome 5: Primary Care > Part 2 Performance Information

Performance Information for Administered Items

Administered Funding – Primary Care Programs, including:

Primary Care Education and Training;
Primary Care Financing, Quality and Access;
Primary Care Policy, Innovation and Research; and
Primary Care Practice Incentives.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Funding of high quality, relevant primary health care research.	The number of projects funded.	10 projects funded.
Indicator met.	Over 41 high quality, relevant research projects were approved in 2006–07 through the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy including: 24 projects worth around $3.6 million, funded by the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute; 5 Project Grants totalling over $3.3 million, managed through the National Health and Medical Research Council; and 12 inaugural Senior and Mid Career Research Fellowships at a cost of around $6.3 million. The research is being funded to build the primary health research evidence across a range of priority areas including: strengthening the primary health care workforce; • improving prevention and management of chronic disease; preventing overweight and obesity in children; and • improving rural and remote health service delivery.
A range of primary care service delivery models are supported or implemented.	Progress achieved towards implementation or support of models of primary care service delivery.	The National Health Call Centre Network company established during 2006–07. Up to 95 after-hours services supported or implemented in 2006–07 through the Round the Clock Medicare Program (up to 76 services supported or implemented in 2005–06). A range of targeted service development projects are supported through the After-Hours Primary Medical Care Program.
Indicator met.	The Department acting on behalf of the Government and in collaboration with shareholder jurisdictions established the National Health Call Centre Network company in August 2006 and appointed the initial Board of Directors in February 2007. The network's services were in place in line with the COAG commitment of first calls taken from July 2007. There were two funding rounds for the Round the Clock Medicare: Investing in After-Hours GP Services Program which resulted in after-hours projects and/or services being delivered in 2006–07. The first round resulted in the approval of 77 applications with 71 funding offers being made. The second round resulted in the approval of 80 applications with 66 funding offers made. Negotiations are continuing on the remaining 14 successful applications. Through the After-Hours Primary Medical Care Program, 15 after-hours services and/or projects continue to be supported involving all states and the Northern Territory.
Uptake of training places for GP registrars in rural and urban areas.	The number of training places filled each year on the Australian General Practice Training Program.	558 places filled in 2006 out of a total of 600 available places (532 places filled in 2005 out of a total of 600 available places).
Indicator met.	In the calendar year of 2007, 612 registrars commenced training on the Australian General Practice Training Program.
Increase in the uptake of prevocational general practice placements.	Percentage of prevocational general practice placements that are taken up.	An estimated 70.0% uptake of the 280 available prevocational general practice placements (up from 60.0% uptake of the available 280 prevocational general practice placements in 2005–06).
Indicator met.	75.0% of the 280 prevocational general placements were taken up in 2006–07. The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program provides placements in general practice settings across Australia to encourage junior doctors to take up general practice as a career. The expected uptake in 2006–07 was 70.0% of 280 placements. This target was exceeded by 5.0%, with an uptake of 210 placements.
Increased number of non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners undertaking continuing professional development.	The number of non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners registered on one of the general practice incentive programs that require participants to undertake continuing professional development.	An increase from the previous year of non- vocationally recognised medical practitioners undertaking continuing professional development through general practice incentive programs (470 in 2005–06).
Indicator met.	The number of non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners in 2006–07 on the general practice incentive programs that require participants to undertake continued professional activities was 609. The After-Hours Other Medical Practitioners and the MedicarePlus Other Medical Practitioners Programs provide access to the higher Medicare rebate for eligible medical practitioners providing general practice services. By requiring program participants to undertake continued professional development, the programs aim to improve the quality of general practice services provided by these doctors. Uptake on the programs has increased by 25.0%, from 470 participants in 2006 to 624 participants in 2007.
Well-targeted and managed incentives and support programs for general practitioners to provide services in rural and remote Australia.	The level and range of incentives and support for general practitioners who provide services in rural and remote Australia.	A range of incentives and support programs for general practitioners who provide services in rural and remote Australia.
Indicator met.	The Department provided detailed monitoring of incentives and support programs for general practitioners in rural and remote Australia to ensure the benefits from allocated funding were fully realised. This has been challenging due to over optimistic expectations of take up rates for some programs. However, ongoing monitoring and program development has ensured that the incentives and programs continue to encourage and support general practitioners in rural and remote Australia: 324 participants received payments under the HECS Reimbursement Scheme. This is a 20.0% increase on the number of participants receiving payments in 2005–06; 1,459 doctors received payments under the Training for Rural and Remote Procedural General Practitioners Program. This is a 122.0% increase on the number of doctors receiving payments in 2005–06; 2,062 doctors received financial incentives under the Rural Retention Program. This was an increase of 41 over the number receiving these incentives in 2005–06; and 7 Rural Workforce Agencies were supported by the Rural and Remote General Practitioner Program.
Divisions of General Practice address key priority areas such as access, chronic disease management, prevention and integration as required in their funding agreements.	The percent of Divisions receiving quarterly payments on time, and percent at one month later.	90.0% of Divisions receive quarterly payments on time. 100.0% of payments are resolved within one month.
Indicator met.	At the end of the 2006–07 financial year, 99.9% of core funding had been paid to the Divisions network.
Increased number of practices qualifying for incentives through the Practice Incentives Program.	The number of practices qualifying and uptake of incentive.	Increase from previous year. Uptake of incentive by practices qualifying for the Practice Incentives Program.
Indicator met.	The number of practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program increased by 53 from the previous year. In May 2007, there were 4,798 practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program.
Increased uptake of general practice Medicare Benefits Schedule financing initiatives. 1	Uptake of relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule items.	Increase from previous year in uptake of relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule items.
Indicator met.	Bulk Billing Incentives In 2006–07, there were 57.7 million claims by general practitioners for services bulk billed to children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders, compared to 55.8 million in 2005–06. The national bulk billing rate increased from 75.6% at the end of 2005–06 to 77.4% at the end of 2006–07. Practice Nurse Services on Behalf of a General Practitioner 3.7 million practice nurse services were claimed in 2006–07 compared to 3.2 million in 2005–06. Increased uptake of allied health items on referral from general practitioners shown by 930,599 claims in 2006–07, compared to 530,795 claims in 2005–06. Enhanced Primary Care Health Assessments As at the end of June 2007, 418,967 Medicare Benefits Schedule health assessment items had been provided (based on the most recent Medicare Benefits Scheme data). This compares favourably with the total of 285,861 services provided in 2005–06. Better Access Mental Health Care Items In the first 8 months of implementation (to 30 June 2007) more than 1.2 million new mental health Medicare items were claimed.
Improved access to primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 2	Medicare Benefits Schedule benefits maintained or introduced.	Increased access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from previous year.
Indicator substantially met.	As at the end of June 2007, 22,564 Medicare Benefits Schedule Indigenous health assessment items had been provided (based on the most recent Medicare Benefits Scheme data). This compares favourably with the total of 11,687 services provided in 2005–06. Since their introduction in May 2006, registered Aboriginal Health Workers provided over 4,000 immunisation and wound management services on behalf of general practitioners.

1, 2 Funding for these Medicare Benefits Schedule-related activities is provided under the Medical Benefits special
appropriation under the Health Insurance Act 1973 , under Outcome 3.

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Performance Information for Departmental Outputs

Output Group 1. Policy Advice , including:

Primary Care Education and Training;
Primary Care Financing, Quality and Access;
Primary Care Policy, Innovation and Research;
Primary Care Practice Incentives; and
2006–07 Budget measures.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Quality, relevant and timely advice for Government decision-making.	Ministerial satisfaction.	Maintain or increase from previous year.
Indicator met.	Ministers were satisfied with the quality, relevance and timeliness of advice for Government decision-making.
Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.	Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.	Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.
Indicator met.	The Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy funds the Australia Primary Health Care Research Institute which is making very good progress in delivering timely and relevant evidence-based policy research through its innovative research streams. A key example is the 12 systematic reviews published by the institute in 2006–07 under its Stream 4 research program.

Top of pageOutput Group 2. Program Management, including:

financial management and reporting;
development and management of grants and contracts; and
administration and revision of legislation as required.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses.	Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses.	0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.
Indicator not met.	Expenditure was not within 0.5% of budgeted predictions.
Stakeholders to participate in program development.	Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings.	Stakeholders participated in program development eg. through surveys, conferences and meetings.
Indicator met.	Mental health stakeholders were involved in the development and implementation of the Better Access Medicare items through informal consultations and formal stakeholder meetings. This included discussion and consultation with mental health stakeholder groups. There was also consideration of proposed items by the Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee, and regular ongoing meetings with consumer representatives and peak organisations representing medical and allied health workforces.