26 May 2017


Attending the online RACGP extraordinary general meeting– Tuesday 30 May

All voting and attendance at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) will be conducted electronically to allow equity and ease of access for RACGP members across Australia.

RACGP members have various options to watch and vote at the online EGM via Lumi, the partner organisation employed by the RACGP to provide electronic voting.

It is strongly recommended that you either download the 'Lumi AGM' app or check the Lumi EGM website in advance of the 8.00 pm (AEST) Tuesday 30 May meeting time to ensure access capability.

Log in will be available from 6.00 pm (AEST). Please log in by 7.30 pm (AEST) to ensure you are online with plenty of time before the meeting commences.

Detailed log in instructions are available on the RACGP website.

Members are reminded that proxy nominations must be received no later than 8.00 pm (AEST) on Sunday 28 May 2017. Further information is available on the RACGP website and shareGP.


National Reconciliation Week webinar

Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Wednesday 31 May 2017, 7.30–8.30 pm (AEST).

The RACGP is hosting a webinar during National Reconciliation Week to improve effectiveness in conducting health assessments with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Follow-up services and actions need to be implemented systemically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments to be most effective. Current evidence indicates follow-up is inconsistent and improved health outcomes can be achieved when continuous and coordinated follow-up care is provided.

Register on the RACGP website or contact RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health on 03 999 88 651 for further information.


Closing the Gap Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Co-Payment Measure: Know your requirements

RACGP members can now access the updated Closing the Gap (CTG) – Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Co-Payment Measure education guide.

The guide includes more information to help you meet PBS requirements, including:

  • the measure and how it works
  • how to register patients
  • how to write CTG prescriptions
  • prescribing and dispensing requirements for CTG annotation code prescriptions
  • patient payments and PBS Safety Net recording
  • CTG–PBS Co-payment Measure patient contributions
  • claiming
  • prescription serial numbers.

Visit the Department of Human Services website for further information and to read the CTG education guide.


On-demand telehealth services

The RACGP has been monitoring the emergence of various online platforms being used to deliver on-demand general practice services.

On-demand telehealth services generally consist of a website of mobile applications, with consultations being patient-initiated. Depending on the provider and platform used, patients are offered a range of services, including consultations, referrals, prescriptions and medical certificates.

The RACGP has developed a position statement on the use of on-demand telehealth services, which accompanies the existing suite of RACGP telehealth resources.

Visit the RACGP website to read the on-demand telehealth position statement.


National Cancer Screening Register and Cervical Renewal

Earlier this year, the Federal Government announced a rescheduling of the start of the renewed National Cervical Screening Program due to a delay in the implementation of the National Cancer Screening Register.

Based on RACGP recommendation, the Department of Health has developed the following interim arrangements:

  • Between 1 May – 30 November 2017, the Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) test will be added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) at a Medicare rebate of $36.00 per test and will exist alongside the rebate for the conventional cytology test
  • Between 1 May – 30 November 2017, for each patient a Medicare rebate will only be payable for one cervical screening test for cytology, either the LBC test or the conventional cytology test. If you choose to do both tests, you will need to inform patients that they will incur an out-of-pocket expense
  • The Medicare items for cervical screening will change on 1 December 2017, when the renewed National Cervical Screening Program is implemented.

Visit the Australian Government Cancer Screening website for more information.


RACGP Queensland has a new home

RACGP Queensland has relocated to a new address – Level 7, 410 Queen Street, Brisbane 4000. The faculty’s postal address remains PO Box 1616, Coorparoo DC Qld 4151.

Visit the RACGP website for RACGP Queensland contacts.


Clinical Pearl: Prostate cancer therapy significantly increases fracture risk

Recently published osteoporosis guidelines recognise the increasing problem of fragility fracture in men on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Large studies have shown that ADT increases fracture risk by 30–60% relative to untreated men of the same age.

Low bone-mineral density (BMD) is a common but under-recognised problem in men, even prior to commencement of ADT.

A study of Australian men commencing ADT showed that, at baseline, 11 % had osteoporosis and 40% osteopenia, and 60% of the men with osteoporosis were unaware of the poor state of their bone health.

The new guideline recommends that BMD is measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan in all men at the commencement of ADT. Antiresorptive therapy is recommended for men with a T-score below -2.5, and is strongly recommended for men on ADT who have a history of fragility fracture.

Visit the RACGP website to read the osteoporosis guideline.


Media enquiries

Journalists and media outlets seeking comment and information from the RACGP should contact:

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor