Evaluation of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GPs through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative: component B: an analysis of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) administrative data

9.9 Does the relationship between Better Access uptake and demand for ATAPS psychological service at a divisional level differ between metropolitan and rural or remote regions?

Page last updated: August 2010

Analyses were then undertaken to examine whether the relationship between Better Access and ATAPS differed between metropolitan and rural or remote areas.

Table 9.18 shows the summary statistics for ATAPS uptake, separately for Divisions of General Practice classified as metropolitan and rural or remote, and Better Access uptake in 2008.

Table 9.19 and table 9.20 present the results of the regression analyses for metropolitan regions. These show that metropolitan Divisions with higher rates of persons using Better Access items also have higher rates of persons using ATAPS (table 9.19). However there was no corresponding relationship found between Better Access items used and ATAPS sessions delivered (table 9.20).

Table 9.21 and table 9.22 present the results of the regression analyses for rural and remote regions. These show that rural and remote Divisions with higher rates of persons using Better Access had significantly lower rates of persons using ATAPS (Table 9.21). A similar, although less strong, effect was found for the relationship between Better Access items used and ATAPS sessions delivered (table 9.22).

Table 9.18 Summary statistics for ATAPS uptake, separately for metropolitan and rural/remote Divisions, and Better Access uptake, 2008

Division level measuresRangeMeanSD
Metropolitan Divisions
Persons using ATAPS (per 1,000)
0.02-8.00
1.4
1.5
ATAPS sessions delivered (per 1,000)
0.11-45.7
6.6
7.9
Better Access users (per 1,000)
18.4-75.7
46.7
8.8
Better Access services used (per 1,000)
54.7-398.1
192.1
54.6
Rural or remote Divisions
Persons using ATAPS (per 1,000)
0.06-13.9
3.6
3.2
ATAPS sessions delivered (per 1,000)
0.23-49.6
13.4
10.9
Better Access users (per 1,000)
12.1-64.0
35.0
12.1
Better Access services used (per 1,000)
23.6-248.0
113.9
57.2

Data have regard to all claims processed up to and including 30 April 2009.
SD, standard deviation.

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Table 9.19 Negative binomial regression estimates of rate ratios with 95% CIs for persons using ATAPS, 2008, metropolitan regions.

Rate ratio95% CIP
Better Access users (per 1,000) in Division
1.029
1.006-1.052
0.014

Table 9.20 Negative binomial regression estimates of rate ratios with 95% CIs for ATAPS sessions delivered, 2008, metropolitan regions.

Rate ratio95% CIP
Better Access services used (per 1,000) in Division
1.002
0.998-1.006
0.292

Table 9.21 Negative binomial regression estimates of rate ratios with 95% CIs for persons using ATAPS, 2008, rural or remote regions

Rate ratio95% CIP
Better Access users (per 1,000) in Division
0.975
0.951-1.00
0.046

Table 9.22 Negative binomial regression estimates of rate ratios with 95% CIs for ATAPS sessions delivered, 2008, rural or remote regions

Rate ratio95% CIP
Better Access services used (per 1,000) in Division
0.993
0.989-0.997
0.002