Caring for a marginalised community: the costs of engaging with culture and complexity.
The Care and Prevention Programme (CPP) began in 1998. It is based on the philosophy of primary health care, and has improved health among homosexually active men, including about a third of HIV-positive South Australians. The CPP was assessed using financial analysis and qualitative methods. Participants wanted to access care where they could feel comfortable and safe to talk about issues of sexuality and lifestyle. The CPP model is "economically" sustainable, but not "financially" sustainable within the Medicare Benefits Schedule. It is vulnerable to changes in political environment. The financing model for the CPP has been adapted by including state funding. General practitioners have adapted by lowering their personal incomes (but not quality of care). These adaptations have achieved fragile financial viability. Facilitators of sustainability for the CPP included: It is part of the community that it serves; The creation of deeply integrated networks of diversity-competent service providers; and "Virtuous non-adaptability" of service providers in refusing to compromise care standards despite financial pressure to do so. Threats to sustainability included: Difficulty maintaining a diversity-competent workforce skilled in HIV medicine; Marginal financial viability; and Political vulnerability.
Rogers
Gary D
GD
Health in Human Diversity Unit, Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. gary.rogers@adelaide.edu.au
Barton
Christopher A
CA
Pekarsky
Brita A
BA
Lawless
Ann C
AC
Oddy
Joy M
JM
Hepworth
Rebecca
R
Beilby
Justin J
JJ
D001294:Attitude to Health; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics; D005380:Financing, Government; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000191:economics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality; D013021:South Australia