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

Abstract

The study described in this paper aimed to determine a funding model for an after-hoursprimary medical care service in the rural town of Moe, a socioeconomicallydisadvantaged area of Victoria suffering the rigours of industry restructuring andprivatisation. It has 12.5 equivalent full-time general practitioners servicing 21- 966persons.A break-even analysis of the financial viability compared the expected costs ofproviding the service with the anticipated income. A mixed funding model isrecommended. This would incorporate a general practitioner incentive scheme andState Government underwriting of infrastructure and basic non-medical staffing costsduring the business development phase to supplement the income from the HealthInsurance Commission.