Mental Health Australia’s submission to the Development of the Australian Mental Health Care Classification

Mental Health Australia’s submission to the Development of the Australian Mental Health Care Classification (AMHCC) - Public Consultation Paper 1

The Independent  Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) has commenced the development of the Australian Mental Health Care Classification (AMHCC). This is a new classification, as at  present there is no single national classification system used for mental health care services.

The classification will extend beyond admitted patient care in hospitals to non-admitted, community and residential mental health care. The development of the AMHCC will include the planning, design, development and testing for the purposes of pricing mental health care services from 1 July 2016. The development of the classification is in addition to IHPA’s responsibilities for developing the National Efficient Price and National Efficient Cost for public hospital services and managing existing classifications. 

Classifications aim to provide the health care sector with a nationally consistent method of classifying all types of patients, their treatment and associated costs in order to provide better management, measurement and funding of high quality and efficient health care services. A nationally consistent way of classifying mental health care services will improve the sector’s understanding of what, where and how services are provided. When implemented a well designed classification system will support better models of care and service provision, improve policy and planning and strengthen the targeted application of financial resources. 

IHPA held the first round of consultation on the classification during January and February 2015. This initial consultation sought stakeholders views on the proposed structure and approach to the development of the classification. 

Mental Health Australia prepared a submission to both address our concerns in relation to the development of the AMHCC and to inform a diverse range of members and stakeholders on some of the more technical and detailed aspects involved in building the classification.

Mental Health Australia’s submission to the Development of the Australian Mental Health Care Classification (AMHCC) - Public Consultation Paper 1 can be found here.

Letter from CEO of Mental Health Australia to the CEO of the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority can be found here.

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