Allied health services planning framework for chronic diseases

The funding of private health services is subject to differential arrangements, with limited allied health services available through the public system, but with private services funded entirely through private payments. This contrasts with private medical services (plus optometry), reimbursed through Medicare, making access to these services less costly to the consumer. This will encourage use of medical services (and drugs which are also heavily subsidised) instead of allied health services, where the two are potential substitutes, even where the latter are more effective and less costly from a societal perspective. Given the distorted incentives, the application of health services planning to determine the optimal level, mix and location of allied health services is indicated. After considering possible alternative planning models, a needs based approach is selected as the only rigorous approach to this question, logically applied within a regional planning framework. Model application involves; establishing the scope of the planning exercise (allied health skills, chronic diseases to be covered); documentation of best practice guidelines/management protocols; translation into an allied health skill requirement (hours/person/year); and an EFT skill requirement, reflecting population health status and information on the service system. The next stage is to trial the planning model.