Billing complexity and uncertainty were the main challenges identified by those who took part in a survey about attitude towards Health Care Homes.
Released by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) and completed by 93 health care providers, the survey found that on average respondents neither strongly opposed or were enthusiastic about the Health Care Homes changes.
Improving health outcomes for patients, better patient care coordination, and more flexibility in the delivery of care were some of the opportunities anticipated by those who participated in the survey.
When asked how NWMPHN could support practices to prepare for the impending roll-out most requested:
- More information on the model of care
- Assistance with internal funding/billing mechanisms
- Information around employment contracts
- PEN CAT training and its use with different clinical software
- Practical examples of what the Heath Care Homes model looks like in practice
In response to the findings, NWMPHN is implementing a range of activities to support practices interested in becoming a health care home. Activities include:
- Education and training: A series of training and education sessions focusing on billing, PEN CAT and data analysis, and understanding the model more broadly.
- Face-to-face practice visits
- Roll-out of an online self-assessment tool: for practices interested in becoming a Health Care Home, or for those wanting to benchmark their practice for quality improvement purposes.
- Development of a multidisciplinary ‘HCH leaders group’: made up of GPs, nurses and practice managers from eight general practices in the NWMPHN region. Members of the group will trial the online self-assessment tool, implement a patient centered medical home model of care in their practice and share their results with other practices in our region.
For more information or to book a face-to-face practice visit, please email healthcarehomes@nwmphn.org.au
