The next series of analyses considered the impact of Better Access on psychological services delivered under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) projects. Figure 9.13 and figure 9.14 show the rates of uptake of Better Access and non–Better Access MBS items from the December 2004 quarter (i.e. 2 years prior to the commencement of Better Access) to the March 2009 quarter across all 113 Divisions of General Practice, for persons and services respectively.
The rate of persons using ATAPS ranged from 0.28 per 1,000 total population in the December 2004 quarter to 0.56 per 1,000 in the March 2009 quarter. The rate of ATAPS sessions delivered ranged from 0.78 per 1,000 total population in the December 2004 quarter to 1.53 per 1,000 in the March 2009 quarter.
Analyses examined whether the patterns of uptake of ATAPS had changed since Better Access was introduced. The trend for the pre–Better Access period (December 2004 quarter to September 2006) was compared to the trend for the post–Better Access period (March 2007 quarter to the March 2009 quarter). Rates continued to grow in the post–Better Access period, although the rate of growth was significantly slower than in the pre–Better Access period (see table 9.12).
Figure 9.13 Persons using Better Access and ATAPS, December 2004 quarter to March 2009 quarter (rate per 1,000 population), for 113 Divisions of General Practice
Text version of Figure 9.13
Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.Top of page| Quarter | Persons using Better Accesss MBS items Rate per 1,000 population | Persons using ATAPS psychological services Rate per 1,000 population |
|---|---|---|
| December 04 | - | 0.5 |
| March 05 | - | 0.5 |
| June 05 | - | 0.5 |
| September 05 | - | 0.5 |
| December 05 | - | 0.6 |
| March 06 | - | 0.7 |
| June 06 | - | 0.8 |
| September 06 | - | 0.8 |
| December 06 | 5 | 1 |
| March 07 | 10 | 0.8 |
| June 07 | 13 | 0.6 |
| September 07 | 14 | 0.6 |
| December 07 | 15 | 0.6 |
| March 08 | 15.5 | 0.6 |
| June 08 | 17 | 0.7 |
| September 08 | 18 | 0.8 |
| December 08 | 19 | 0.8 |
| March 09 | 20 | 0.7 |
Figure 9.14 Better Access items used and ATAPS sessions delivered, December 2004 quarter to March 2009 quarter (rate per 1,000 population), for 113 Divisions of General Practice
Text version of Figure 9.14
Figures in this description are approximate as they have been read from the graph.Top of page| Quarter | Better Access services used Rate per 1,000 population | ATAPS psychological used Rate per 1,000 population |
|---|---|---|
| December 04 | - | 1 |
| March 05 | - | 1 |
| June 05 | - | 1 |
| September 05 | - | 1 |
| December 05 | - | 1 |
| March 06 | - | 1 |
| June 06 | - | 1 |
| September 06 | - | 1.5 |
| December 06 | 8 | 1 |
| March 07 | 24 | 1 |
| June 07 | 32 | 1 |
| September 07 | 35 | 1 |
| December 07 | 36 | 1 |
| March 08 | 37 | 1 |
| June 08 | 45 | 1 |
| September 08 | 47 | 1.2 |
| December 08 | 47 | 1.2 |
| March 09 | 48 | 1.1 |
Table 9.12 Estimated change in trends for uptake of ATAPS, before and after the introduction of Better Access
| Trend pre-Better Access RR (95% CI) | P | Trend post-Better Access RR (95% CI) | P | Ratio of trendsa RR (95% CI) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons using services | 1.139 (1.108-1.172) | <0.001 | 1.036 (1.010-1.063) | 0.007 | 0.909 (0.875-0.945) | <0.001 |
| Services used | 1.145 (1.114-1.177) | <0.001 | 1.038 (1.013-1.064) | 0.003 | 0.907 (0.873-0.941) | <0.001 |
Data have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009.
a The ratio of the post–Better Access trend to the pre–Better Access trend.