Is value-based healthcare a strategy to achieve universal health coverage that includes oral health? An Australian case study

Tan M Nguyen; Gemma Bridge; Martin Hall; Katy Theodore; Clare Lin; Ben Scully; Ruth Heredia; Long K-D Le; Cathrine Mihalopoulos; Hanny Calache

doi:10.1057/s41271-023-00414-9

Is value-based healthcare a strategy to achieve universal health coverage that includes oral health? An Australian case study

J Public Health Policy. 2023 Jun;44(2):310-324. doi: 10.1057/s41271-023-00414-9. Epub 2023 May 4.

Authors

Tan M Nguyen^{1

2

3}, Gemma Bridge⁴, Martin Hall^{5

6}, Katy Theodore⁷, Clare Lin^{5

8}, Ben Scully⁵, Ruth Heredia⁵, Long K-D Le⁹, Cathrine Mihalopoulos⁹, Hanny Calache^{7

10}

Affiliations

¹ Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Level 3, Building BC, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3125, Australia. tan.nguyen@deakin.edu.au.
² Dental Health Services Victoria, Level 1, Corporate Services, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia. tan.nguyen@deakin.edu.au.
³ Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia. tan.nguyen@deakin.edu.au.
⁴ Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK.
⁵ Dental Health Services Victoria, Level 1, Corporate Services, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia.
⁶ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
⁷ Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Level 3, Building BC, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3125, Australia.
⁸ Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
⁹ Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 4, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
¹⁰ La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3552, Australia.

Abstract

The 2021 Resolution on Oral Health by the 74th World Health Assembly supports an important health policy direction: inclusion of oral health in universal health coverage. Many healthcare systems worldwide have not yet addressed oral diseases effectively. The adoption of value-based healthcare (VBHC) reorients health services towards outcomes. Evidence indicates that VBHC initiatives are improving health outcomes, client experiences of healthcare, and reducing costs to healthcare systems. No comprehensive VBHC approach has been applied to the oral health context. Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV), an Australian state government entity, commenced a VBHC agenda in 2016 and is continuing its efforts in oral healthcare reform. This paper explores a VBHC case study showing promise for achieving universal health coverage that includes oral health. DHSV applied the VBHC due to its flexibility in scope, consideration of a health workforce with a mix of skills, and alternative funding models other than fee-for-service.

Keywords: Allocation of health-care resources; Health policy; Noncommunicable diseases; Oral health; Primary health care; Universal health care.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Australia
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
Oral Health*
Universal Health Insurance*
Value-Based Health Care

Supplementary concepts

Australians