How Distribution Priority Areas (DPA) Impact GP Practices

The DPA Australia classification system is there to help identify where there are not enough GP and healthcare services. Then there are initiatives designed to attract GPs to choose to work in those areas so that Australians are all able to access the care they need. DPA stands for Distribution Priority Area. Most DPAs are rural as that is the hardest place to attract GPs to. Doctors willing to open or join GP practices in those areas are rewarded. International medical graduates even are expected to work in a DPA area to be allowed to have access to Medicare.

How do they decide whether an area gets DPS classification?

The system looks at patients living in that area and their socio-economic status, the medicare billings that happen in that area by age and gender and also how remote the area is. That is worked out by the Modified Monash Model, which is a system for geographical classification. They look at the level of GP services in that catchment and when that is lower than the benchmark set, it means the area is then classified as a DPA. All locations that are classified under MMM as between 2-7 are all straightaway DPAs. Inner city MM1 areas are not ever DPAs. There are currently 827 GP catchment areas. Importantly the system uses updated data so it does not rely on inaccurate information.

DPAs are updated each year

If there has been a large change in how a catchment has been used then DPA status can be adjusted. If there has been an increase in services for patients for example a GP catchment area could lose DPA Australia status. The more above the benchmark the catchment is the more access to GP services that area must have.

Changes in DPA and their impact on GP practices

If there is a loss of DPA status it means doctors there specifically can only get their exemptions and such as long as they meet certain conditions. If a GP was in negotiation while the DPA status was there, but then it was removed, they can still be eligible. New doctors coming in after will not. The status of a GP catchment area will have an impact on the GP practices there since there are specific supports and incentives for each MM classification.

2021 review of the DPA classification system

An independent review of the DPA Australia system was taken to see how effective it is and where there are areas for improvement and change. The government responded well to it, agreeing with almost every point. It looked at whether the DPA system correctly identifies areas that are in need of GP practices, whether it addresses that need and what changes need to happen to help specifically Australians in remote and rural areas.

The DPA was found to be mostly effective at identifying areas in need and that there is a lot of support for this system. It is better and more supported than the system it took over from the DWS classification. About 75% of the GP catchment areas have DPA status. Out of all the DPAs about 71% are locations in MM5 to 7. It is making improvements in the right places.