Care Plus
Care Plus is a primary health care funding initiative to support people with high health needs due to chronic conditions, acute medical or mental health needs, or terminal illness.
Care Plus funding is provided to general practices to improve chronic care management, reduce inequalities, improve primary health care teamwork and reduce the cost of services for high-need patients.
Eligibility for Care Plus
A general practice that is part of a PHO can enrol a patient in Care Plus if they are assessed by a doctor or nurse at the general practice as:
- being able to benefit from intensive clinical management in primary health care (at least 2 hours of care from 1 or more members of the primary health care team over the following 6 months), and
- having 2 or more chronic health conditions, as long as each condition is one that:
- is a significant disability or has a significant burden of morbidity; and
- creates a significant cost to the health system; and
- has agreed and objective diagnostic criteria; and
- requires continuity of care and where a primary health care team approach has an important role in management; or
- requiring intensive clinical care because they:
- have a terminal illness (defined as someone who has advanced, progressive disease whose death is likely within 12 months); or
- have had 2 acute medical or mental health-related hospital admissions in the past 12 months (excluding surgical admissions); or
- have had 6 first-level service or similar primary health care visits in the past 12 months (including emergency department visits); or
- are on active review for elective services.
If you think you may be eligible for Care Plus, ask your doctor or nurse if you could benefit from a more intensive care programme. They will assess you to see if you are eligible for Care Plus. If you are not eligible they may be able to help you in other ways or review your care.
What Care Plus provides
The provision of Care Plus varies between PHOs, and in some cases it varies between practices within the same PHO.
In general, a Care Plus patient can expect an initial comprehensive assessment where their health needs are explored in more depth. An individual care plan should be developed to set realistic, achievable health and quality of life-related goals, with regular follow-ups. People using Care Plus will get effective management of chronic health conditions, better understanding of their conditions and support to make lifestyle changes.
Care Plus services are usually provided at a low or reduced cost.
Care Plus and the High Use Health Card
Does Care Plus replace the High User Health Card?
Over time, it is expected that Care Plus will replace the High Use Health Card (HUHC) as the means of providing additional support for high-needs patients. Care Plus differs from the HUHC however, in that it coordinates a comprehensive approach to improve outcomes for people with chronic conditions, including lower cost access, whereas the HUHC is a subsidy approach tied to GP visits.
Will High User Health Card patients automatically transfer to Care Plus?
When HUHC patients come for their annual review, they should be assessed to see whether they are eligible for Care Plus. If they are, they will be transferred.