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NHPA releases data on GP and specialist visits by Primary Health Networks

The National Health Performance Authority has updated the MyHealthyCommunities website with data for 2013-14 on GP and specialists visits and MBS expenditure. This is the first report of this data by the new Primary Health Networks boundaries.

Because this data marks a break with previous reporting by Medicare Locals, its immediate value is mainly for single year comparisons across PHNs.

Some key data in the update include:

  • the percentage of people who have seen a GP in the previous 12 months by PHN: ranges from 86% in the North Coast and Blue Mountains PHNs, to 69% in the Western Queensland PHN, with the average across PHNs being 82.1%.
  • GP attendances over the previous 12 months per person by PHN: range from 7.6 visits per year in South West Sydney to 3.6 visits per year in the Northern Territory, with the average across PHNs being 5.7 visits per year.

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