The ongoing evolution of capitation funding for primary care: the December 2018 PHO capitation funding changes for Community Services Card holders.

AIM

To 1) consider the possible impact on equity of the recent policy to support people on low incomes to access primary care using the Community Services Card (CSC), and 2) identify questions that will need to be answered in order for the policy and funding changes to be evaluated.

METHODS

Review of publicly accessible reports, papers, media releases and websites to detail and examine the funding changes made in December 2018 to implement the CSC policy.

RESULTS

CSC possession is an important new determinant of eligibility to low-cost access to primary care for many people. As the funding changes are complex, the equity effects cannot be fully understood until further detailed modelling is carried out, and specific questions are answered.

CONCLUSIONS

The December 2018 PHO capitation funding policy changes represent a further step towards universal low-cost primary healthcare. The effects of those funding changes should now be evaluated in order to understand their effects on equity. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health to ensure that an evaluation of the changes takes place.