title: Universal access to ambulance does not increase overall demand for ambulance services in Queensland, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of the introduction of universal access to ambulance services via the implementation of the Community Ambulance Cover (CAC) program in Queensland in 2003-04.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved a 10-year (2000-01 to 2009-10) retrospective analysis of routinely collected data reported by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and by the Council of Ambulance Authorities. The data were analysed for the impact of policy changes that resulted in universal access to ambulance services in Queensland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QAS is a statewide, publically funded ambulance service. In Queensland, ambulance utilisation rate (AUR) per 1000 persons grew by 41% over the decade or 3.9% per annum (10-year mean=149.8, 95% CI: 137.3-162.3). The AUR mean after CAC was significantly higher for urgent incidents than for non-urgent ones. However projection modelling demonstrates that URs after the introduction of CAC were significantly lower than the projected utilisation for the same period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of universal access under the Community Ambulance Cover program in Queensland has not had any significant independent long-term impact on demand overall. There has been a reduction in the long-term growth rate, which may have been contributed to by an 'appropriate use' public awareness program.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Victoria Park Road, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia. vivienne.tippett@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Vivienne C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Tippett
authors.forename: Ghasem Sam
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Toloo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eeles
authors.forename: Joseph Y S
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004630:Emergencies / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D019472:Universal Health Insurance