Joint Statement PSAAP Meeting 25 November 2020

The PSAAP Group discussion covered a range of issues including:

• An update was given by the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on the current status of the COVID-19 response as it relates to testing and immunisation. The Group discussed the preparation needed for the successful roll-out of the COVID-19 immunisation programme and the importance of equity for the campaign.
• A lengthy discussion on planned care. It was agreed that more work was needed to define what a nationally consistent approach to increasing planned care in primary care would look like and to determine the funding principles. The need for equity to be the number one priority for changes to planned care delivery was discussed. Acknowledgement that these principles need to be reflected in district health board’s (DHBs) current planning activity.
• An update on the Gen2040 programme was given to the Group which highlighted its progress with 270 practices utilising the Best Start Pregnancy Assessment Tool for first trimester pregnancy care. A further 180 more practices have committed to utilising this tool.
• A commitment to understanding what primary care could do to support proactive work underway in the gender identity space.
• Acknowledgement that the current primary care funding formula is not fit for purpose and a commitment to the inclusion of demographic adjustments to primary care capitation funding, as a proxy for complexity, to progress through the Ministry’s internal Budget 21 process. This is acknowledged as a short-term patch while funding mechanisms are being considered as part of the implementation of the Health and Disability System Review recommendations.
• Agreement to reinitiate work to better understand utilisation data on Community Services Card and Zero Fees for Under-14s and the importance of better data collation within primary care for improved decision making on quality and equity of services.

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