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A policy option towards improving skill-mix efficiencies in Victorian public oral healthcare.
  • Tan Minh Nguyen,
  • Martin Hall
Tan Minh Nguyen
Dental Health Services Victoria

Corresponding Author:tan.nguyen@deakin.edu.au

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Martin Hall
Dental Health Services Victoria
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Abstract

Background: International oral health policy directions led by the World Health Organization call for the inclusion of oral health within universal health coverage. The aim of this study is to perform a budget impact analysis of a policy option for a more cost-efficient oral health workforce skill-mix (dentists and oral health therapists) to provide public oral healthcare in Victoria, Australia. Methods: Two hypothetical standard care pathways were developed. A dynamic population Markov model was generated in TreeAge software, with a time horizon of six years. Two scenarios were modelled to determine: 1) base-case scenario: the threshold the dentist workforce could reduce per year, while achieving the same service delivery outputs, and 2) alternative scenario: the potential cost-savings for utilising an optimally cost-efficient oral health workforce skill-mix. Results: The threshold analysis showed a minimum reduction of 13% of the dentist workforce being replaced with oral health therapists can occur without having any impact on the same service delivery outputs. Under the alternative scenario, the potential cost-savings would be AUD$1,425,037 (SD 58,954). Conclusions: Governments and policy-decision makers should consider strategies in training, attracting, and retaining oral health therapists to achieve an optimally cost-efficient oral health workforce skill-mix when delivering public oral healthcare.
Submitted to International Journal of Health Planning and Management
09 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
13 Mar 20241st Revision Received
10 May 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Jun 20243rd Revision Received
19 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
10 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Accept