Developing a funding model for an after-hours primary medical care service in a rural town

Aust Health Rev. 1998;21(3):104-15. doi: 10.1071/ah980104.

Abstract

The study described in this paper aimed to determine a funding model for an after-hours primary medical care service in the rural town of Moe, a socioeconomically disadvantaged area of Victoria suffering the rigours of industry restructuring and privatisation. It has 12.5 equivalent full-time general practitioners servicing 21,966 persons. A break-even analysis of the financial viability compared the expected costs of providing the service with the anticipated income. A mixed funding model is recommended. This would incorporate a general practitioner incentive scheme and State Government underwriting of infrastructure and basic non-medical staffing costs during the business development phase to supplement the income from the Health Insurance Commission.

MeSH terms

  • Demography
  • Female
  • Financing, Government*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Econometric*
  • Physician Incentive Plans
  • Primary Health Care / economics*
  • Rural Health Services / economics*
  • Victoria