Effects of the Medicare enhanced primary care program on primary care physician contact in the population of older Western Australians with chronic diseases

Abstract

Objective. Assess uptake of Medicare's enhanced primary care (EPC) services in Western Australia (WA) in 2001 to 2006, evaluating effect of EPC services on the regularity of contact with general practitioners (GPs) in patients aged 65+ years. Method. Whole-population cohort study using linked routinely collected health service data from State and Federal health databases. Analyses include age-standardised rate of EPC services, odds of EPC utilisation relative to other GP services using logistic regression, and total GP service regularity pre-and post-implementation of the EPC program. Results. EPC services provided to WA seniors increased 345% 2001 to 2006, comprising an increasing proportio..