Does Enhanced Primary Care enhance primary care? Policy-induced dilemmas for allied health professionals

Abstract

*One aim of Medicare's Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) initiative is to encourage multidisciplinary care of patients with chronic disease by funding five allied health treatment sessions per patient per year. * In many cases, the number of funded treatments is far less than standard clinical practice indicates, particularly when the five visits are shared between service providers. * We believe clinical outcomes may be compromised by adhering to the funded hours, and inequity of outcome may arise based on socioeconomic status and the ability of patients to pay. *Research that determines how patients and allied health practitioners are responding to this initiative is required. *Research is also required to evaluate whether EPC enhances clinical outcomes compared with no allied health intervention and standard allied health practice.