In 2000, the Division conducted a dedicated Commonwealth Government funded Enhanced Primary Care Program that focussed upon promoting uptake of EPC MBS items, such as Coordinated Care Plans, Case Conferences and Health Assessments amongst General Practice.  In 2001-2002, the Division successfully promoted the uptake of EPC items on the Mid North Coast, recording a cumulative uptake of EPC items by 75% of providers, ranking the uptake within the Division amongst the highest in NSW.

Dedicated/direct Commonwealth Government funding for the EPC program was subsequently withdrawn with the expectation that the program activities would be absorbed into the Division core outcome based funding activities, and expectation that is common with similar dedicated programs that have been introduced, including Information Management and Technology.  As a result, the Division is left with less discretionary funding to allocate to other locally identified health needs, and existing limited funding is more spreadly thin across increased program activities, diluting focus and effectiveness.  However, the Division has continued to take a proactive role in supporting integrated care, including Commonwealth funded MBS initiatives, extending to promotion of new items, and engaging providers from diverse health domains in collaborative approaches to care.  Initiatives such as the Rural Palliative Care, Integrated Cancer Care, Integrated Diabetes Care, GP Diabetes and Cardio Vascular Disease Clinics, Mid North Coast Mental Health Providers forum, BoiHMi and MAHS Psychology and Diabetes Educator services, Aged Care GP and Allied Health Panels, and collaborative partnerships are evidence fo the Divisions contribution to Enhanced Primary Care.