Pay for performance

NHHRC recommendation 19: “We recommend embedding a strong focus on quality and health outcomes across all primary care services. This requires the development of sound patient outcomes data for primary health care. We also want to see the development of performance payments for prevention, timeliness and quality care."

The NHHRC recommends $252-800m for this initiative, with up to 28 per cent of practice payments to become incentive payments (NHHRC p. 257).

 

The Draft National Primary Care Strategy does not contain clear recommendations, but considers performance incentives, fund-holding and capitation payments, with pros and cons listed at table 11 (pp. 134-35).

 

AMA recommends simpler MBS GP items to enable patients to receive rebates appropriate to, and reflective of, the high quality acute care, complex care, chronic disease management, and preventive care provided in general practice.