Australian Immunisation Register eLearning modules
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published five new Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) eLearning education modules for health professionals, to help vaccination providers understand how to access and use the AIR site and record vaccination episodes.
The AIR is a national register funded under the National Immunisation Program that records vaccines given to people of all ages, vaccines provided under state and territory vaccination programs and most privately funded vaccines, including influenza and travel vaccines.
Visit the DHS website for more information about the AIR eLearning modules as well as supporting resources, guides and information on providing immunisation medical exemptions.
Changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule allergy items from 1 November 2018
Changes to Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) items for skin prick testing (SPT) will come into effect from 1 November 2018. These changes are the result of recommendations made by the Dermatology, Allergy and Immunology Consultative Committee to the MBS Review Taskforce.
The changes are intended to discourage testing for more than 20 allergens at a time and also to align with clinical guidelines, which recommend testing for specifically chosen allergens.
From 1 November 2018, allergen testing items will be restructured into separate items for environmental, food and latex, medication, and anaesthetic-related allergies. Doctors (excluding dermatologists) will be able to bill two aeroallergen SPT services per 12-month period. Dermatologists will be able to bill multiple aeroallergen SPT services.
Visit the Department of Health website for more information.
In Practice poll results – 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 when a patient is bulk billed.
We polled members on how they manage the cost of consumables for patients who are commonly bulk billed. More than two thirds of respondents (69%) said that they or their practice absorbs the cost of consumables. Member feedback noted that absorbing the cost of consumables for some services (eg absorbable sutures used for a skin excision) presents a financial burden for the practice. When a patient is bulk billed, the rebate value for some services does not adequately cover the cost of consumables needed, in addition to other service costs (eg GP consultation, business costs).
In order to manage the cost of consumables, 19% of respondents said they privately bill their patient for the service and raise an additional charge for any consumables used. A further 9% said they ask the patient to purchase consumables externally and bring them to a consultation.
Thank you to all respondents for taking time to provide feedback, which will help to inform our continued advocacy around general practice business sustainability and the ‘hidden’ cost of providing general practice services.