New National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test kit
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (the Program) introduced a new immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) kit and associated pathology services in the first week of January 2018.
The previous test kits are no longer available to the Program and are cea sing production.
To support the introduction of the new kit, a number of resources are available on the Department of Health website.
Information and tips on promoting the Program in general practice can found in this fact sheet, which includes bowel cancer and Program statistics, links to local level data, consumer resources and health professional training.
National Cervical Screening Program - Important Information
Under the new National Cervical Screening Program, cervical screening is not recommended for women under 25 years.
Medicare does not fund routine human papillomavirus (HPV) screening tests in women under 25 and testing of these samples will either need to be privately funded by the patient, or, with the consent of the referring practitioner, not processed.
Women under 25 years who are currently under clinical management for a cervical abnormality should be managed according to the recommendations in the 2016 guidelines for cervical cancer screening.
Women at any age who have signs or symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer should have an HPV and liquid-based cytology (LBC) co-test and be referred for the appropriate investigation to exclude genital tract malignancy.
Please familiarise yourself with the ‘Pathology Test Guide for Cervical and Vaginal Testing’ to avoid out-of-pocket fees for your patients.
Changes to Medicare Benefit Schedule item 900 – Domiciliary Medication Management Reviews
From 1 February 2018, GPs will be required to provide a copy of a patient’s Domiciliary Medication Management Plan to the patient’s choice of community pharmacy as part of the Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR), also known as a Home Medicines Review (item 900).
This comes following a change to the item descriptor for item 900, which comes into effect from 1 February 2018.
The new descriptor also states that a patient is eligible for a DMMR if they are assessed as having a chronic medical condition or a complex medication regimen and their therapeutic goals are not being met.
A summary of the change can be found on page 40 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule Book.
The RACGP has asked the Department of Health for more information regarding the reasons behind the change and will update members once we receive further information.
For specific advice regarding the change, please contact askMBS directly on askMBS@humanservices.gov.au or 13 21 50
If you have any feedback regarding how this change will affect your patients or practice, please contact advocacy@racgp.org.au as it will assist the RACGPs advocacy efforts in this area.