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Table 5 Cost and consequences for the PHN, General Practices and MPA graduates

From: Impact assessment of the medical practice assisting (MPA) program in general practice in the hunter New England and central coast regions of Australia

Perspective

Costs

Value

Potential monetisable consequences

Mid-point value (sensitivity analysis: min–max values)

PHN

Cost of MPA Program Coordination and scholarship subsidy (2018 cohort of 44 students)

$126 718

No monetisable consequences

General Practices

Initial course and training investment

$22 687

Modelled scenario A

(a) Six extra patients per week (0 to 12 patients)

$12 090 ($0–$24 180)

 

Optimal utilisation costs per annum per MPA graduate

$47 070

(b) Expected additional Practice Nurse- generated gross revenue from health assessments ($0 to maximum)

$144 573 ($0–$152 627)

 

Total cost at 1-year post-graduation

$69 756

(c) Total gross revenue 1-year post-graduation (a + b)

$156 663 ($0–$176 807)

(d) Total net revenue 1-year post-graduation (c -$69 756)

$86 907 ($69 756–$107 051)

   

Modelled scenario B

(a) Six extra patients per week

(b) Additional MPA generated gross revenue from extra billable tests

(c) Total gross revenue 1-year post-graduation (a + b)

d) Total net revenue 1-year post-graduation (c – $69 756)

$12 090 ($0–$24 180)

$68 952 ($0–$137,904)

$81 042 ($0–$162 084)

$11 286 (-$69 756–$92 328)

MPA graduates

Total course-related costs

$3729

Modelled scenario C

(a) Annual increase in wages per year post graduation

$2974 ($0–$5948)

 

Possible offsets:

Aspirational annual wage increase

$5948

(b) Total net MPA outcome 1-year post-graduation (a–$3729)

$-755 (-$3729–$2219)

 

Midpoint

Lowest annual wage increase

$2974 -

$0

(c) Total net MPA outcome 2 years post-graduation ((2 × a) -$3729)

$2219 ( -$3729–$8167)

  1. aIntervals reflect the range of monetary income/cost between not supporting an MPA and supporting an MPA