How should we fund integrated primary care for children in Australia? A resource allocation study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• Integrated primary care enhances early intervention and support for families with children.
• Funding models present a significant barrier to effective integrated care provision.
• Limited evidence exists on optimal funding strategies for integrated child and family primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather expert opinions on the most effective funding models for integrated primary care for children aged 0-12 years in Australia.
• To identify preferred funding structures and assess their suitability for integrating health and social care services.

Main Methods:

• A resource allocation survey was administered to experts in primary health, social care, and mental health.
• Participants ranked six distinct funding models and provided qualitative feedback.
• Expert judgement was utilized to evaluate funding preferences for integrated care.

Main Results:

• Block-funding, alternative-payment-methods, and incentive-payments were identified as preferred funding models, both individually and in combination.
• Fee-for-service, capitation, and pay-for-performance models were least preferred by experts.
• Consensus indicated that fee-for-service models may impede the integration of primary care services.

Conclusions:

• A blended funding model incorporating alternative-payment-methods, incentive-payments, and block-funding is recommended for optimal integrated care.
• This blended approach is considered most effective for improving child health outcomes.
• Establishing appropriate funding mechanisms for integrated primary care is a critical priority for Australian decision-makers.