Getting more value from mental healthcare funding and investment
New report advocates for better patient outcomes
The Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE) has today released the findings of their investigation into funding the Australian mental healthcare system. They emphasise the necessity for enhanced integration of care, provider payment structures focused on patient outcomes, and a systematic approach to funding decisions to get more value from mental healthcare funding and investment.
Extensive stakeholder consultations underscored the crucial role of patient involvement in defining successful care, shaping policies, and guiding research priorities. This comprehensive report stems from a timely investigation led by a multidisciplinary team from MUCHE and the Australian Institute of Health Innovation. Funding for the study was provided by a grant from the National Mental Health Commission, aiming to identify strategies for enhancing mental health funding and investment.
A key highlight of the report is the assessment of value based payment models in healthcare. These models, which include pay-for-performance, capitation, bundled payments, and accountable care organisations, use financial incentives to motivate providers towards delivering improved health outcomes.
Associate Professor Jonas Fooken, lead researcher at MUCHE for mental healthcare and co-author of the report, noted, "We explored the feasibility of value based payment models in mental health and found significant support despite existing barriers. This approach, although relatively new in Australian healthcare funding, garnered broad consensus on its benefits and the importance of prioritising outcomes in mental health investments."
Associate Professor Fooken added, "Our recommendations outline critical next steps, emphasising the need to tailor payment models and assess specific investments in collaboration with stakeholders."
Addressing the relevance of these findings for enhancing mental healthcare in Australia, he remarked, "We believe it is time to move forward with testing value based payments and integrated care models, recognising their potential to achieve superior outcomes in mental health."
The Report and additional papers are available here:
An article on this report was published in The Conversation.
To discuss this report, please contact Associate Professor Jonas Fooken jonas.fooken@mq.edu.au.
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