Delivery of STEPMI Services in the Wimmera Grampians Region

⁠⁠⁠People living in Western Victoria who have an enduring and persistent severe mental illness (SMI) experience worse life outcomes (including health, psychosocial, and economic) than others in the same communities. The complexity of primary and acute care systems, structural incentives in favour of episodic care, and variations in service availability, capacity and capability across the region create barriers to consistent delivery of quality care and continuity of care. These factors also make it more difficult for consumers and their natural supports (families, friends and carers) to navigate the system.

The Western Victoria model (Services and Treatment for Enduring and Persistent Mental Illness 'STEPMI') focuses on provision of primary care led treatment combinations to people with enduring and persistent SMI in the community. Across the region, it is intended to deliver equitable access to appropriate services that facilitate the coordinated and efficient provision of person centred treatment and care.

Western Victoria PHN's objectives in issuing this RFP is to: 

solicit innovative, flexible approaches to providing STEPMI services from the market;

•  transition toward outcomes-based commissioning in preference to more prescriptive output or fee-for-service contracting;
•  manage risks to continuity of care and service transition; and
•  maximise the value delivered to the community from the available program budget.