Guideline for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis
The RACGP invites members to view the updated Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis (Second edition).
The objective of this new guideline is to present the best available, current scientific evidence for osteoarthritis (OA) interventions, covering all interventions other than joint replacement for the hip and knee.
This guideline provides Australian GPs with advice and recommendations for the management of people with knee and/or hip OA. The development of the guideline was funded in part by Medibank Better Health Foundation and recommendations have been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The guideline has a strong focus on self-management and non-surgical treatments to improve the health of people with knee and/or hip OA.
Visit the RACGP website to download the guideline.
Changes to Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) in September
In response to the recommendation made by the ‘Independent Review of Health Providers’ Access to Medicare Card Numbers’, a number of changes will be made to Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) in September.
From 8 September:
- the maximum number of multiple patient verification checks allowed will be 50 per request upload. The existing limit of one upload request per day will remain
- health professionals will only be required to read and accept the HPOS Terms and Conditions the first time they log in or when there is a change made to the conditions.
Further changes to support the review recommendations will be made to HPOS in December.
Visit the Department of Human Services’ HPOS website for further information.
Three days left to complete your RACGP Australian General Practice Training application
Applications for the 2019 Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program close 10.00 am (AEST) Monday 3 September.
The AGPT Program is the leading program for doctors who wish to pursue the specialty of general practice. Doctors interested in the program can apply via the RACGP website.
The RACGP, through the AGPT Program, offers specialist general practice pathways towards Fellowship, and gives general practice registrars the opportunity to undertake relevant, engaging and appropriate activities through a well-supported program.
Visit the RACGP website for further information on the AGPT Program and key activities and dates.
In Practice poll – Managing the cost of consumables
The Health Insurance Act 1973 requires a health practitioner to accept the relevant Medicare benefit as full payment of a service if it is bulk billed. This means that additional charges for consumables (with the exception of vaccines), record-keeping fees, booking fees, administration and registration in relation to the service cannot be raised.
If a practitioner does not bulk bill a service, they may raise an extra charge to cover additional costs, such as for a consumable. However, in doing so, a practice forfeits eligibility for any bulk-billing incentives.
While GPs may choose to bulk bill their services based on a number of factors, indexation of patient Medicare Benefits schedule (MBS) rebates has not kept pace with the cost of providing quality healthcare services. As costs rise, the ability to absorb the cost of consumables as part of a bulk-billed service becomes far less manageable.
The RACGP is interested to know how you manage the cost of consumables (eg dressings, bandages, liquid nitrogen, etc) for patients who are commonly bulk billed.