Consultancy to develop the Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) classification version 4

In relation to subacute care, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority is responsible for the implementation of a nationally consistent activity based funding system for subacute services commencing on 1 July 2013. The Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification system was selected by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority as the activity based funding classification system to be used for subacute and non-acute care.

The Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification was developed as a casemix classification for subacute and non-acute care patients in a national study conducted by the Centre for Health Service Development, University of Wollongong in 1997. The Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification classifies episodes of subacute and non-acute patient care that are provided in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. Patients are classified on the basis of setting, care type, phase of care, assessment of functional impairments, age and other measures.

The Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification was reviewed and updated to version 3 during 2011 and released in January 2012. Australia-wide data collection of the Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification for activity based funding purposes was on a ‘best efforts’ basis from 1 July 2012. The Independent Hospital Pricing Authority will price subacute and non-acute care services using the Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification version 3 in 2013-14. Where Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient data is not available, per diem payments, weighted by care type, will be applied.

In May 2013, the University of Wollongong granted the Commonwealth of Australia (represented by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) a licence to modify the Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification version 3, enabling the development of version 4.

The purpose of this request for tender will ensure that the Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient classification system:

oremains valid

oreflects changes in current medical practice

oincorporates changes in processes due to new or modified clinical assessment tools

oreflects changes in the scope and definitions of subacute and non-acute patients

oidentifies key cost drivers for subacute and non-acute care patients

oreviews options to incorporate non-admitted subacute patients that are currently classified according to the Tier 2 classification system

oreviews the current splitting variables

oevaluates the cost prediction ability of incorporating patient issues such as comorbidities and challenging behaviours

oevaluates the cost prediction ability of cognitive measures that are nominated by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority

oevaluates the ability of Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration instruments to predict costs

oassesses the value of incorporating the Resource Utilisation Groups – Activities of Daily Living in the psychogeriatric branch of the admitted arm of the classification

oreviews options for the inclusion of paediatric patients, with exploration of potential cost drivers

oundertakes a complete review of the ambulatory arm of the classification, including the most appropriate unit of count