Background
AIDH, with the Centre for the Digital Transformation of Health (CDTH) University of Melbourne, is investigating options to remunerate primary healthcare professionals who support and monitor consumers who use preventative health apps.
In Phase One of the project, we completed a desktop review and environmental scan, and presented our findings in a report and at a webinar in December.
In Phase Two of the project, we completed stakeholder engagement to understand the preferences, priorities, practical constraints, and safeguards that matter most when developing new funding models. We presented our findings at a webinar in March and are excited to release the report with the full findings.
Report findings overview
Responses from the 149 respondents to the survey, show strong support for funding models for app-enabled preventative primary care. Findings indicate broad agreement that the current lack of remuneration for monitoring outside of traditional consultations is limiting wider uptake.
Stakeholders saw potential benefits in funded monitoring, including earlier detection of deterioration, better health outcomes, fewer hospital presentations, etc. At the same time, they stressed the importance of limiting administrative burden from the introduction of a new funding model, and of protecting equity of access.
Overall, no single preferred funding model emerged; instead, the findings point toward a blended approach.
In the current phase of the project, the project team has selected two funding approaches for modelling:
- targeted MBS item payments: to remunerate defined activities such as set-up, review and follow-up, anchored to clinically appropriate monitoring/review patterns.
- a monthly payment model: to support ongoing monitoring and engagement, with scope for a higher initial payment to reflect set-up time.
To illustrate how these models might operate in practice, the modelling will be applied to two representative use cases: a diabetes prevention/management app and a smoking cessation app.
Read the full report on our webpage here.
Learn more
Background on the project: https://digitalhealth.org.au/advocacy/funding-mechanisms/
Acknowledgement
Project funded under the Health Peak and Advisory Bodies Program Community Grant Funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA).