Mental health and use of Medicare Benefits Schedule follow-up mental health services by Indigenous people in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usher, K; Jackson, D; Peng, W; Amarasena, S; McCowan, D; Miller, J; Cashman, B; Sibbritt, D

Mental health and use of Medicare Benefits Schedule follow-up mental health services by Indigenous people in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usher, K

Jackson, D

Peng, W

Amarasena, S McCowan, D Miller, J Cashman, B Sibbritt, D

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Publisher:: Frontiers
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Front Public Health, 2023, 11, pp. 1190484
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Usher, K https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
dc.contributor.author	Jackson, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5252-5325
dc.contributor.author	Peng, W https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9747-2466
dc.contributor.author	Amarasena, S
dc.contributor.author	McCowan, D
dc.contributor.author	Miller, J
dc.contributor.author	Cashman, B
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-11T03:18:23Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-28
dc.date.available	2023-09-11T03:18:23Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.citation	Front Public Health, 2023, 11, pp. 1190484
dc.identifier.issn	2296-2565
dc.identifier.issn	2296-2565
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172029
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Mental health care has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic as has attendance for preventive mental health health services. This study aimed to investigate trends in all types of mental health service claims identified in an Indigenous-specific health assessment for Indigenous people before and during COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) mental health service items (Items 81,325 and 81,355), to investigate the trends in all types of mental health service claims specifically intended for Indigenous people of Australia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including the total annual numbers of Indigenous peoples' mental health service claims cross-tabulated by age groups and gender, between the calendar years 2017-2021. Multivariable Poisson regression modelling was used to determine associations that were statistically significant. RESULTS: Our results indicate an overall rise in MBS claims for mental health follow-up services during 2019-2020 followed by a decline in 2020-2021. In addition, there was an overall decline in claims for follow-up psychology services across the time period 2019-2021. CONCLUSION: We found a significant decline in MBS items specific to follow-up mental health services (MBS Items 81,325 and 81,355) for Indigenous people in Australia suggesting a decline in attendance for mental health service follow-up which in turn may indicate a deficit in mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, an issue that may lead to poorer mental health outcomes in the future. Further research is needed to understand whether these changes were due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Frontiers
dc.relation.ispartof	Front Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190484
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	4203 Health services and systems
dc.subject.classification	4206 Public health
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Follow-Up Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Mental Health
dc.subject.mesh	Mental Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Aged
dc.subject.mesh	National Health Programs
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Indigenous Peoples
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.title	Mental health and use of Medicare Benefits Schedule follow-up mental health services by Indigenous people in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ARCCIM - Australian Research Centre in Complementary & Integrative Medicine
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-09-11T03:18:22Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	11

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Mental health care has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic as has attendance for preventive mental health health services. This study aimed to investigate trends in all types of mental health service claims identified in an Indigenous-specific health assessment for Indigenous people before and during COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) mental health service items (Items 81,325 and 81,355), to investigate the trends in all types of mental health service claims specifically intended for Indigenous people of Australia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including the total annual numbers of Indigenous peoples' mental health service claims cross-tabulated by age groups and gender, between the calendar years 2017-2021. Multivariable Poisson regression modelling was used to determine associations that were statistically significant. RESULTS: Our results indicate an overall rise in MBS claims for mental health follow-up services during 2019-2020 followed by a decline in 2020-2021. In addition, there was an overall decline in claims for follow-up psychology services across the time period 2019-2021. CONCLUSION: We found a significant decline in MBS items specific to follow-up mental health services (MBS Items 81,325 and 81,355) for Indigenous people in Australia suggesting a decline in attendance for mental health service follow-up which in turn may indicate a deficit in mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, an issue that may lead to poorer mental health outcomes in the future. Further research is needed to understand whether these changes were due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172029