Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program changes starting 1 July
A number of reforms were announced as part of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA), including changes to the Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program.
The CTG changes will come into effect on 1 July 2021. They are designed to improve access to CTG scripts for clients regardless of their location, the prescriber (including hospitals and specialists), their chronic disease status, and Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) enrolment.
Information on the changes is in the CTG PBS Co-payment Program Reform factsheets:
New MBS COVID-19 vaccine counselling item
On 18 June 2021, the Minister for Health announced a new Medicare item for GPs to counsel patients and build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine (item 10660).
The new item supports vaccine counselling for patients aged over 50. It is equivalent to a Level B consultation with a rebate of $38.75, can be claimed once per patient and must be bulk billed.
The item can only be claimed where a GP attends to a patient in person for more than 10 minutes and must be provided in conjunction with a relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment item. It cannot be billed with other MBS items.
A separate item for other medical practitioners working in a general practice setting is also available (item 10661).
Visit MBS Online for more information.
It’s time to celebrate excellence in general practice
Do you know an extraordinary GP, GP in training, GP supervisor or general practice going above and beyond to improve the health of the community?
If the answer is yes, nominations for the 2021 RACGP Awards are now open.
GPs receive all kinds of acknowledgements from their patients, but it’s important to formally recognise this work and dedication to holistic patient care, and that’s where the awards come in.
The RACGP Awards celebrate exceptional individuals in Australian general practice for their outstanding achievements and contribution to the health of their community.
Nominate an extraordinary GP, GP in training, GP supervisor or general practice today.
Visit the our website to nominate.
Introduction to sexual and reproductive health
Date: Thursday 29 July 2021
Time: 7.00–8.30 pm (AEST)
GPs play a pivotal role in the provision of sexual and reproductive health care in Australia.
Increase your confidence in providing support in these areas to your patients at a webinar presented by ASHM.
Attendees will be provided with an overview of sexual and reproductive healthcare in general practice including sexual health, sexual history taking, STI screening and contraception.
Register for the webinar.
Changes to the MBS from 1 July
A number of changes will be made to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) from 1 July 2021. These include indexation of most MBS items and changes to general surgery, orthopaedic and cardiac services arising from the MBS Review.
Indexation will be applied to most of the general medical services items and all diagnostic imaging services, except nuclear medicine imaging and magnetic resonance imaging, and two pathology items (74990 and 74991). The MBS indexation factor for 1 July 2021 is 0.9%.
Other minor changes include amending heart health assessment items 699 and 177 to provide that these services can only be performed on a patient aged 30 or older. This will align the items with the current evidence-based age cohorts for the Australian Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk calculator.
We’ll update our MBS online tool with the latest rebate values as soon as possible from 1 July.
Visit MBS Online for more information.
Preconception genetic carrier screening and early pregnancy testing
Date: Wednesday 18 August 2021
Time: 7.00–8.00 pm (AEST)
Genetic carrier screening is now recommended as part of routine pregnancy care, and GPs play a key role in ensuring their patients understand the genetic screening options available at each stage of a pregnancy.
Testing patients before conception gives them an opportunity to discuss all reproductive options, including pre-implantation genetic testing.
At this webinar, Monash IVF specialists will discuss current options for genetic carrier screening and non-invasive prenatal testing, including when to use which test and how to interpret the results.
Register for the webinar.
CrazySocks4Docs sale ends soon
In support of CrazySocks4Docs day, we’ve been selling four designs of crazy socks out of our RACGP Shop.
For the month of June, we will be donating all proceeds from sock sales to Beyond Blue and we’re encouraging you to use this as an opportunity to connect with your colleagues and have a conversation about your health and wellbeing.
Frontline workers have been hit hard by the pandemic, so we need to look after each other and show support to those who are struggling. If you are looking for an easy way to help, head over to the RACGP Shop and grab a pair of socks.
You can purchase one pair for $15 or four for $50, but make sure you grab them before 30 June.
Apply for the Remote Vocational Training Scheme
The Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) is a unique Government-funded Fellowship program providing vocational training for medical practitioners in rural and remote MMM 4–7 locations or Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) in MMM 2–7 locations.
Applications for round one of the 2022 intake are open until Sunday 4 July 2021. The RVTS will offer 32 training positions for the 2022 intake, 22 in the remote training stream, and 10 in the AMS training stream.
There are targeted recruitment positions available in selected areas of high workforce need across Australia.
RVTS registrars stay in their community throughout their training and are linked into a nationwide network of medical educators, supervisors, and fellow trainees.
Visit our website to find out how to apply.
A biopsychosocial approach to supporting child mental health
Date: Thursday 29 July
Time: 7.00–8.30 pm AEST
Gathering information as part of a biopsychosocial approach is a pre-existing and transferable skill that any GP can use in a child mental health assessment.
Presented by RACGP Specific Interests and Emerging Minds this webinar will explore the features of a biopsychosocial formulation with children aged 5–12, its importance in supporting child mental health, and its contribution to mental health treatment planning.
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
Register for this free webinar.
RACGP resources to help you manage your billing
General practices need tailored, sustainable business and billing models in place to remain viable and to continue to provide essential services to the community.
We have a suite of resources available to support GPs to build and sustain a successful general practice and maintain work-life balance.
Access the following resources in one location on our website (member login required):
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General Practice Business Toolkit
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Billing calculator
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Strategies to keep your practice sustainable
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Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) online tool.