It was reported in April that Western Victoria Primary Health Network’s new Services and Treatment for Enduring and Persistent Mental Illness (STEPMI) model would replace the network’s Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) from July 1.

Tristar Medical Group mental health services manager Brett McKinnon said the new model would cut the group’s annual funding from $200,640 to $138,500 in 2018/19.

However, last week Tristar received notice from Western Victoria PHN that service providers had the option to extend funding by four months to help the transition process for existing clients.

“The funding is to allow us to sort patients into the STEPMI program, which is capped at 55 patients for the region,” he said.

“The four months worth of funding is a temporary measure to allow services to process their current patient loads.

“There will be some patients that meet the criteria for the new STEPMI services, but there will be a number of patients who don’t but will also need servicing. So there could be a lot of gaps potentially.”

He said government funding was often weighted towards the acute sector, rather than the primary care sector.

“If they fund the primary care sector up front, and do a lot of that primary detection and early intervention, these people will never have to get to the stage where they need acute care,” he said.

“Acute care is where the biggest spending is for government – people go to hospital and require a lot of additional support, which is a very costly practice for government.

“Not to mention that when these people are affected, it has a ripple effect in the community. If you’re not addressing a person’s needs upfront, then there’s a lot more work involved in helping that person in the future.”

Mr McKinnon said he was having conversations with PHN about the future of service funding.

“Effective PHNs would have done a lot of preparatory work up front, they would have engaged local communities and researched what works best in each community,” he said. 

“My concern is that there is still going to be a finite level of funding attached to those gaps.

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“I hope I’m not having the same conversation in four months. The challenge for the PHN will be to work collaboratively with the local service providers to find a framework that services the community’s needs, and if there are gaps in funding, to lobby the government to fill those gaps. 

“We’re seeing upwards of 400 to 500 patients per year just in Horsham, so if that service goes, these people are going to need to go somewhere. Horsham can’t afford to lose it. 

“There are other providers outside of Tristar that will have access to funds that also might be at risk.”

Western Victoria PHN chief executive Dr Leanne Beagley said the decision to extend funding by four months came after new funding was made available form the federal government.

“Western Victoria PHN has engaged a mental health nurse consultant to work with Tristar and the new STEPMI providers to support transition and treatment planning for existing patients,” she said.

“This will ensure that all patients have appropriate services according to their needs prior to finalising the MHNIP contracts.

“Mental health nurses providing MHNIP services at Tristar are currently employed by Tristar Medical Group. There are a range of options for credentialed mental health professionals to continue their work in the region. 

“Currently there is a workforce shortage in this health care field as well as increasing investment in mental health services by the Commonwealth. Both these factors continue to provide potential and increased workforce choices for credentialed mental health professionals.”

She said the STEPMI model was “purpose-built” for people with persistent and enduring mental illness. 

“There are other local mental health service options that may be appropriate for some patients such as the PHN funded Psychological Therapy Services, and the Medicare funded psychological services,

“We expect that all patients identified with ongoing needs will have local options for treatment and support.

“In addition to extending their contract, Western Victoria PHN has engaged a Mental Health Nurse Consultant to assist Tristar, should they wish, to review the ongoing needs of current patients and prepare transition plans for all patients into appropriate care.

“As a result of the extension of contract, Tristar will have had a full year to prepare for transition of patients as formal advice was sent on November 6, 2017 that MHNIP services were scheduled to cease at the end of their contracted period, June 30, 2018.”