Reviewing a mental health care plan – What GPs should know
GPs who complete General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC)-accredited Mental Health Skills Training are eligible to claim higher rebates under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Better Access initiative. This includes the use of MBS items 2712, 2715 and 2717 for the development and review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (GPMHTP).
MBS item 2712 can be claimed when a GP reviews a patient’s mental health care plan and does not have to be used to access additional sessions. GPs can claim a different MBS item number, like 2713 or 36/44, and still conduct a review. The Department of Health recommends at least one formal review should occur four weeks to six months after the completion of a GPMHTP.
Visit the Department of Health website for more information on the steps involved in a review of a GPMHTP.
Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Conference 2019 - Disruptive Innovations in Healthcare
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) 2019 Conference will be held at Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin from 3–4 October 2019.
The AIDA Conference 2019 is a forum to share and build on knowledge that increasingly disrupts existing practice and policy to raise the standards of healthcare.
Over the two-day program, delegates will hear from industry experts, network with Indigenous doctors, medical students and peak health organisations and join conversations about disruptive innovations in healthcare.
Opportunities to gain CPD points will be available.
Visit the AIDA Conference website to view the full program or register.
Therapeutic Goods Administration statutory advisory committees vacancies
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking applications from professionals in relevant scientific and medical fields for its statutory advisory committees, including members whose terms of appointment expire on 31 Dec 2019. These committees support TGA functions as a regulator.
There will be 40 vacancies across the seven statutory advisory committees:
- Advisory Committee on Medicines
- Advisory Committee on Medical Devices
- Advisory Committee on Complementary Medicines
- Advisory Committee on Vaccines
- Advisory Committee on Biologicals
- Advisory Committee on Chemicals Scheduling
- Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling
Applications close COB Tuesday 27 August.
Visit the TGA website for further information.
Rural health webinar series
The RACGP Rural health webinar series presents free monthly webinars on important health issues for rural and remote GPs.
Each session will be held on the first Thursday of the month and focus on supporting GPs with relevant information and resources. The first webinar, on ‘Common ocular presentations and how to manage them’, is on Thursday 5 September and is accredited for two Category 2 RACGP QI&CPD points.
Patients with eye complaints frequently present to GPs seeking diagnosis, triage and necessary management, however, due to a lack of ongoing training and non-availability of nearby specialists, ocular complaints and emergencies may present real diagnostic challenges to rural GPs. This webinar will provide practical knowledge, resources and confidence to competently manage common eye presentations and emergencies.
Visit the RACGP website to register.
Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound workshop series
RACGP Rural is offering registrars and GPs around Australia the opportunity to gain practical experience in ultrasound.
This full-day active learning module (ALM) will improve your understanding of point-of-care ultrasound applications in the diagnostic process. Ultrasound experts will guide you through the diverse applications of ultrasound in primary care services. You will be introduced to basic techniques using advanced, high-end mobile equipment. Each workshop is capped at 25 participants to allow hands-on experience.
This ALM is accredited for 40 Category 1 Quality Improvement and Continuing Professional Development points in the 2017–2019 Triennium. It is also approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
Visit the RACGP website to register.
Getting started in supervision webinar
RACGP members interested in becoming a GP supervisor are invited to join the ‘Getting started in supervision’ webinar from 7.00 – 8.00 pm on Wednesday 28 August.
Presented by GP supervisor and RACGP Queensland Council Member Dr Nicole Higgins, the webinar will provide information on how to get started in supervision and the expectations of supervisors.
Learning outcomes for the webinar will include:
- articulate the roles and responsibilities of a GP Supervisor
- create a dynamic and efficient teaching and learning environment
- identify and utilise resources available to support in-practice supervision.
The ‘Getting started in supervision’ webinar is accredited for two Category 2 CPD points.
Visit the RACGP website for further information and to register your interest.
October changes to allied health referrals for Department of Veteran’s Affairs patients
The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) is introducing changes to GP referrals to allied health providers for DVA patients from 1 October 2019. GP referrals to allied health providers will be valid for up to 12 sessions or a year, whichever ends first. Patients will be entitled to as many treatment cycles as the GP determines are needed.
There will be no change to referral arrangements between GPs and non-GP medical specialists.
The DVA will also increase GP involvement in the treatment of DVA patients, by requiring allied health providers to prepare a report at the end of a patient’s treatment cycle to be sent back to the patient’s usual GP.
Information on which DVA cardholders the new referral arrangements apply to, and the validity of referrals made prior to October 2019, is available here. Further information on the changes will also be made available on the DVA website in the coming weeks.
Consultation now open – National Allergy Strategy shared care model for allergic conditions
RACGP members are invited to share their ideas and experiences to help the National Allergy Strategy scope a shared care model for allergic conditions.
An online discussion specifically for GPs will take place from 8:00pm–9:00pm AEST on Tuesday 10 September.
Visit the National Asthma Strategy website for more information about the shared care model project and the stakeholder consultation process.
Contact the National Allergy Strategy Senior Project Officer by email to register for the online discussion or to find out more.