Last updated 29/04/05

From Frequently Asked Questions #2

Q1 Page D2:16 lists the National Performance Indicators (including points) in relation to the aged care Domain under the National Priority area 'Access'.  In the planning phase, is there any additional documentation required on this page for Divisions? 

A1 In the planning phase, Divisions need to record strategies and key activities undertaken in relation to achieving the national objective outlined on D2:16 on the following page, D2:17.

Please note the National indicators on page D2:16 relate to core National Performance Indicators and the National Performance Indicators on page D2:18 are associated with the additional funding from the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative.

Q2  On page D2:16, is it compulsory to report against the Level 1 and Level 2 indicators considering the Level 3 indicator is compulsory?
 
A2  Divisions must report on all compulsory indicators (marked 'compulsory'). This means N_RES 1.1, N_RES 1.2 and N_RES 3.1 are compulsory.  N_RES 1.3, N_RES 2.1, N_RES 2.2 and N_RES 4.1 are not compulsory and reporting on them is at the discretion of the Division. 
 
Q3  Pages D2:18, D2:19, D2:20 list National Performance Indicators (the 14 indicators are currently included in Divisions contracts under the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative).  These pages also have columns for indicator level and points.  Are Divisions expected to complete these tables?  Are they compulsory?
 
A3  Indicators on Pages D2:18, 19, 20 are performance indicators under the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative. They are not part of the initial set of core National Performance Indicators for Divisions of General Practice. (National indicators are denoted by the N_ prior to the indicator number).

All Divisions receive Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative funding and as such, all Divisions are required to report against the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative performance indicators.  These indicators do not currently have levels and points and the columns relating to points and levels can be left blank. 
 
Q4 If compulsory, why is RACF Access the only domain that has additional indicators for reporting against?
 
A4  The RACF Access is the only domain that has additional indicators (in addition to the initial set of core National Performance Indicators) for reporting because the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative is currently the only additional national program within the planning and reporting pro forma that has a national set of indicators.  MAHS and WSRGP are the other additional national programs included with the planning and reporting pro forma but these national programs but do not currently have national performance indicators. 

The indicators for the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative were included in the new planning and reporting pro forma so that Divisions can report this information at one point in time, in one pro forma.  This will save Divisions reporting separately to the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative program area. 

The department has committed to a review of all indicators and in keeping with this commitment; the indicators associated with the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative will soon be reviewed to ensure they are still needed and are consistent with the framework.  Any indicators not fitting the principles will be removed.
 
Q5  If a Division feels that all their aged care strategies and activities relate to both the national objectives for the core Aged Care funding program and the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative, can they just put all of the strategies and activities in the first box and write "see above" in the others? 
 
A5  Yes.  In response to feedback the Department acknowledges a number of activities/strategies can be designed to achieve more than one objective and this approach is in keeping with streamlined reporting. 

This type of feedback will be important to include in the formal feedback process occurring in May that will provide input into the development of the automated, embedded template due in July 2005.
 
Q6  Given that the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative indicators are reportable under the existing reporting template, do Divisions have to complete the data in both the planning and reporting pro forma and the Aged Care reporting template?  If so, why and for how long will this continue?
 
A6  Divisions will report 2004-05 Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative information (6 and 12 month reports and standard data items) only in the existing format for that program area.  2005-06 information (6 and 12 month reports and standard data items) will be integrated and reported in the new Planning and Reporting Pro forma in which Annual Plans are currently being developed.
 
Q7  Why is the structure of the aged care tables different from the MAHS tables (which are a compulsory section for those Divisions receiving MAHS funding)?
 
A7  The structure of the Access RACF tables is different from the MAHS tables because although MAHS is an additionally funded national program with national objectives, it does not currently have national performance indicators that can be included in the tables. Divisions will use local performance indicators.  The Residential Aged Care Domain uses the national indicators already collected under the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative.
 
Q8 Can Divisions change the National Priority Area (NPA) under which a national domain (such as Workforce Support for Rural General Practice) is placed?
 
Q8 Yes.  All activity must be reported against a NPA, however Divisions have flexibility as to which NPA their national and local domains are reported against.
 
Q9 Our Division holds a National Prescribing Service contract.  How and where does our Division enter this information in the template?  (This will also apply for NPS, HMR and possibly other potential contracts.)
 
A9 The program planning and reporting pro forma must be used for all planning and reporting purposes for core funding as well as the More Allied Health Services (MAHS), Workforce Support for Rural General Practitioners (WSRGP) and the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care GP Panels Initiative.  Where possible, it would make sense to also include other DoHA funded program areas though in doing so, Divisions will need to ensure they still meet any contractual requirements associated with this other program areas.

Divisions could put their NPS work in under a local objective and it may best fit in the General Practice Support area (with cross references to possibly chronic disease, quality support and possibly others depending on work done by a particular Division in each area).  During the 2005-08 contract period the department is committed to working with all program areas to streamline the planning and reporting requirements for the Divisions network and where possible, will incorporate other program areas within this pro forma.   The financial planning and reporting pro forma includes line items for other DoHA funding and other Commonwealth funding.
 
Q10 Indicators N-PIC 1.3 and N_EEE 1.1 are about consumer engagement. Some more guidance around what is expected here would be good.  For example: Do Divisions get extra points if they have consumer rep on the board as opposed to a rep at program levels?
 
A10 Every effort has been made to not embed specific structures and/or processes within the indicators, to allow maximum flexibility for Divisions.  Rather than dictate the mechanism for community input (which will depend on organisational structure, local community and other factors), the indicators are targeting more the existence of a mechanism and its effectiveness.  Appropriate and acceptable mechanisms will vary and do not lend themselves to bonus points.
 
Q11 Who determines domain name for local objectives?
 
A11 The Division decides local domain names.
 
Q12 Should the Division call local indicators by levels?
 
A12 The Department encourages the use of levels, as long as they are consistent with the definitions in the framework i.e. Level 1: Division process/structure, Level 2: general practice/GPs structures/processes, Level 3: processes of care for patents families communities and Level 4: intermediate health outcomes.  However, it is not compulsory to do this - Divisions have flexibility around local indicators.
 
Q13 Where a local indicator could go into a number of domains does DoHA have any guidance on how to decide what domain to put it under eg after hours could go in workforce, integration, or access?
 
A13 The organisation of the plan is not a pass or fail test but more of a system of best fit and that will depend on the primary purpose or intent of the activity.  For specific guidance, your SBO and STO may provide assistance.

From Frequently Asked Questions #1

Q1 The documentation does not clearly identify how Divisions add their 'local priorities' and projects. How is this to work?
 
A1 The Department wants information on all divisional activities funded from core grants.  Local activities should be reported against the most relevant of the nine priority areas, e.g. if a Division receives funding from a state government for a youth mental health program it should be reported in the Chronic Disease Management NPA, mental health domain.  
 
Q2 Do Divisional Strategic Plans need to be re-approved from last year? Do they need to be re-entered into the new template?
 
A2 Divisions? Strategic Plans (now called Agreement Plans) will not need to be re-approved from last year but they will need to be entered into the new template.
 
Q3 A key component of Divisional work is practice support. Which priority area should this be reported under in the new template?
 
A3 Most practice support activities will fit under the General Practice Support National Priority Area (NPA).  However, some practice support activities may fit better in another NPA, e.g. activities specifically relating to the recruitment and retention of an appropriate primary care workforce would fit under the Workforce Support NPA.
 
Q4 How do Divisions capture all the completed work with key stakeholders, such as relationships with each other sectors (disabilities, state, health etc)?
 
A4 Activities involving collaboration with key stakeholders should be reported under the National Priority Area (NPA) most relevant to the activity involved.  For example, activities involving collaboration or integration with hospitals should be reported under the Integration NPA; activities involving working with state governments to improve recruitment of doctors in rural areas should be reported under the Workforce NPA.  Collaborations with key stakeholders also need to be reported under the governance indicator EEE (Div) 1.2). 

Your SBO or ADGP can provide guidance where required.
 
Q5 What are the links made between the data collection parameters/ KPIs and other programs such as the collaboratives? Currently they are different.
 
A5 Work is currently underway to ensure that where there is overlap in the indicators being used, data collection requirements and KPIs for the new Quality Performance Framework and the Collaborative program will be identical. 

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