Given the continued and substantial growth in uptake of Better Access since its introduction, it is of interest to know the extent to which the initiative is attracting 'new' consumers as it proceeds or, conversely, is providing services to a consistent group of people on an ongoing basis. To examine this question, the percentage of Better Access consumers who were new to the initiative in each of 2008 and 2009 was estimated. Table 3.20 shows, for each of 2008 and 2009, the number and percentage of consumers who: (1) had received Better Access services for the first time in that year (new consumers); and (2) who had used Better Access services prior to that year. The number and percentage of new Better Access consumers was calculated for any Better Access item, and then within each of several Better Access provider groups.
The first row of Table 3.20 shows that the majority of Better Access in 2008 and 2009 were new to the initiative. Of consumers who received at least one Better Access service in 2008, more than two–thirds (68.0%) were new Better Access consumers. In 2009, the percentage of new consumers was 57.0%. Note that the 2009 figures will always be lower than 2008 because consumers have had more opportunity to receive services prior to 2009. The percentage reduction in new consumers between 2008 and 2009 was 16.2%.
Subsequent rows of Table 3.20 show the equivalent figures for various provider groupings. The highest rate of new consumers occurs among those who received Consultant Psychiatrist services (92.1% in 2008; 86.9% in 2009). Rates for allied health providers were similar, ranging between 73.7% to 79.5% in 2008, and 66.9% to 74.5% in 2009. Rates were lowest for GP services (73.1% in 2008; 62.2% in 2009). Note that the percentage of new consumers in the individual provider groups will be higher than for overall Better Access services, because they only compare consumers of like–with–like services.
The data also show that the rate of new consumers decreased only modestly between 2008 and 2009 – 16.2% for all Better Access services, 14.9% for GP services, 5.6% for consultant psychiatrists, and between 6.3% and 11.9% for allied health provider services (depending on how these were grouped).
The proportion of services used by new versus existing consumers in each of 2008 and 2009 was also examined. Table 3.21 shows, for each of 2008 and 2009, the number and percentage of services received by consumers who: (1) had received Better Access services for the first time in that year (new consumers); and (2) who had used Better Access services prior to that year. The number and percentage of services received by new Better Access consumers was calculated for any Better Access item, and then within each of several Better Access provider groups. Broadly speaking Table 3.21 shows that, in each of 2008 and 2009, the majority of Better Access services are used by people who are receiving services for the first time in that year.
The data presented here suggest that, not only is Better Access attracting substantial numbers of new consumers in each successive year, but that these new consumers are also consuming a larger proportion of services than existing consumers. Having said that, it is acknowledged that the approach taken here uses a necessarily limited definition of a 'new' consumer. It may have included people who, although new to Better Access, are existing consumers of other parts of the mental health system. For example, people who are existing users of other Medicare mental health services, and people who are existing consumers of other mental health services or providers.Top of page
Table 3.20 Persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services for the first time in 2008 and 2009, by provider type
| Provider type | Received services in 2008 Total N | Received services in 2008 N received services prior to 2008(a) | Received services in 2008 N received services for the first time in 2008 | Received services in 2008 % received services for the first time in 2008 | Received services in 2009 Total N | Received services in 2009 N received services prior to 2009(b) | Received services in 2009 N received services for the first time in 2009 | Received services in 2009 % received services for the first time in 2009 | % change from 2008 to 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Better Access item | 953,161 | 304,696 | 648,465 | 68.0 | 1,130,384 | 486,089 | 644,295 | 57.0 | -16.2 |
| Any GP item | 818,434 | 220,438 | 597,996 | 73.1 | 971,713 | 367,394 | 604,319 | 62.2 | -14.9 |
| Item 2710 | 555,479 | 71,207 | 484,272 | 87.2 | 636,908 | 144,569 | 492,339 | 77.3 | -11.3 |
| Consultant psychiatrist item | 94,398 | 7,421 | 86,977 | 92.1 | 100,390 | 13,102 | 87,288 | 86.9 | -5.6 |
| Allied Health Providers | 452,600 | 129,615 | 322,985 | 71.4 | 550,354 | 204,246 | 346,108 | 62.9 | -11.9 |
| Psychologists | 430,928 | 123,106 | 307,822 | 71.4 | 520,588 | 191,838 | 328,750 | 63.1 | -11.6 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 152,721 | 39,345 | 113,376 | 74.2 | 189,418 | 62,640 | 126,778 | 66.9 | -9.8 |
| General Psychologist | 292,129 | 76,870 | 215,259 | 73.7 | 348,417 | 115,170 | 233,247 | 66.9 | -9.1 |
| Social Workers | 20,319 | 4,155 | 16,164 | 79.6 | 28,276 | 7,198 | 21,078 | 74.5 | -6.3 |
| Occupational Therapists | 3,719 | 801 | 2,918 | 78.5 | 5,103 | 1,432 | 3,671 | 71.9 | -8.3 |
Data had regard to claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010.
(a) Prior to 2008 refers to the period 1 November 2006 to 31 December 2007
(b) Prior to 2009 refers to the period 1 November 2006 to 31 December 2008
Table 3.21 Number of services used by persons receiving MBS–subsidised Better Access services for the first time in 2008 and 2009, by provider type
| Provider type | Services received in 2008 by... Total persons | Services received in 2008 by... Persons who received services prior to 2008(a) | Services received in 2008 by... Persons who received services for the first time in 2008 | Services received in 2008 by... % received services for the first time in 2008 | Services received in 2009 by... Total persons | Services received in 2009 by... Persons who received services prior to 2009(b) | Services received in 2009 by... Persons who received services for the first time in 2009 | Services received in 2009 by... % received services for the first time in 2009 | % change from 2008 to 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Better Access item | 3,813,121 | 1,583,453 | 2,229,668 | 58.5 | 4,663,981 | 2,449,235 | 2,214,746 | 47.5 | -18.8 |
| Any GP item | 1,377,036 | 488,896 | 888,140 | 64.5 | 1,659,366 | 773,764 | 885,602 | 53.4 | -17.3 |
| Item 2710 | 556,585 | 17,414 | 485,171 | 87.2 | 638,756 | 145,158 | 493,598 | 77.3 | -11.4 |
| Consultant psychiatrist item | 102,474 | 8,766 | 93,708 | 91.4 | 109,687 | 15,451 | 94,236 | 85.9 | -6.0 |
| Allied Health Providers | 2,333,466 | 792,016 | 1,541,450 | 66.1 | 2,891,713 | 1,243,343 | 1,651,370 | 57.0 | -13.6 |
| Psychologists | 2,207,836 | 746,949 | 1,460,887 | 66.2 | 2,722,219 | 1,160,392 | 1,561,827 | 57.4 | -13.3 |
| Clinical Psychologist | 793,290 | 245,983 | 547,307 | 69.0 | 1,000,129 | 385,351 | 614,778 | 61.5 | -10.9 |
| General Psychologist | 1,414,546 | 438,249 | 976,297 | 69.0 | 1,722,090 | 662,293 | 1,059,797 | 61.5 | -10.8 |
| Social Workers | 104,174 | 26,118 | 78,056 | 74.9 | 142,478 | 43,487 | 98,991 | 69.5 | -7.3 |
| Occupational Therapists | 21,456 | 5,959 | 15,497 | 72.2 | 30,016 | 10,403 | 19,613 | 65.3 | -9.5 |
Data had regard to claims processed up to and including 30 April 2010.
(a) Prior to 2008 refers to the period 1 November 2006 to 31 December 2007
(b) Prior to 2009 refers to the period 1 November 2006 to 31 December 2008