Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI)
The Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) was announced on 10 February 2006 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). ABHI is a $500 million joint Commonwealth, State and Territory program that will run over 4 years focussing on prevention and reducing the burden of chronic disease.
The aim of the ABHI Primary Care Integration Program is to promote solutions to primary care integration between general practice and other local health providers that will assist in delivery of more ‘seamless’ patient care. This is particularly important in the context of better managing patients with chronic or complex conditions who often receive care from multiple providers, funded by different sources, across different settings.
There are five key focus areas in the ABHI Initiative:
- Promoting healthy lifestyles
- Supporting early detection of risk factors and chronic disease
- Supporting lifestyle and risk modification
- Encouraging active patient self management of chronic conditions
- Improving the communication and coordination between care services through Primary Care Integration.
The Primary Care Integration Program will operate alongside other activities funded by the Australian, State and Territory governments including other initiatives through ABHI.
The Primary Care Integration Program in Queensland is intended to encourage more patient-centred care by supporting general practice to:
- Engage with state funded primary care initiatives, including the Connecting Healthcare in Communities (CHIC) Initiative
- Communicate and link better with other primary care providers
- Make better use of existing primary and community care services including Commonwealth, state and non-government organisation funded services with a focus on patients with chronic disease
- Utilise tools/strategies that will assist in better managing patients with chronic disease (e.g. disease registers, recall & reminder systems)
- Contribute to work around developing local chronic disease care pathways (generic or specific) and referral tools
- Engage with state funded primary care initiatives, recognising the Queensland Government policy directions and initiatives promoting integrated primary and community care.
What is the Moreton Bay General Practice Network's plan for ABHI?
As the fundamental purpose of the ABHI is the prevention and improved management of chronic disease, MBGPN's project specifically aims to increase the uptake of existing MBS item numbers. Further to this, linkages between general practices and allied health professionals will be enhanced and patient referral pathways promoted.
As well as focusing on those clients with existing chronic conditions, there will be a significant focus on prevention and health promotion in the 45-49 year old group, hence increasing the uptake of the 45 - 49 Year Health Check.
ABHI Update – May 2010:
While funding from Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing for this program will cease on June 30th 2010, MBGPN will continue to support the five key focus areas of the ABHI initiative.
In addition, MBGPN will encourage the uptake and usage of electronic resources such as:
- Practices’ existing electronic systems
- Secure electronic messaging which has enhanced existing links, collaboration and communication between practices and other primary health care providers
- An interactive web based tool including electronic templates has been developed for use in the general practice setting to assist health care professionals navigate their way through the Chronic Disease Management maze. This resource is available on our website, and has interactive pages linking users with a multitude of support and guidance for each Medicare item. The web address is www.mbgpn.com.au/cdmflowchart
Updated: June 2010
