RACGP questions smoking cessation MBS items The proposed temporary Medicare item numbers risk fragmentation at the expense of comprehensive primary care, the college has warned.
Telehealth advocates say clinics need certainty to invest in video Proponents for digital transformation say remote consults could assist patients and doctors, but only if the right settings are in place.
RACGP welcomes $1.8b in primary care funding But President Dr Karen Price has said more support is needed to maintain and improve quality GP patient services.
Full clarity on telehealth extension not expected until Federal Budget But the Department of Health has revealed which mental health phone consultation MBS item numbers will remain beyond 30 June.
Longer phone consultations not part of telehealth extension Medicare support for phone consultations longer than 20 minutes will end after 30 June, provoking a strong response from the RACGP.
Telehealth extended but details remain limited The RACGP has cautiously welcomed the six month extension but is still waiting to confirm the policy’s final details.
RACGP President unveils long-term vision for telehealth Dr Karen Price presented the keynote address at the National Telehealth Summit, where she emphatically stated it is ‘here to stay’.
GPs want telehealth clarity Department of Health compliance letters have been sent to confused GPs who have been ‘caught out’ by rules around MBS claiming.
MBS mental health gap must be addressed: RACGP GPs are ‘effectively discouraged’ from providing quality mental health care under the current system, a college submission has stated.
RACGP says GP-specific MBS item for ear toilet not required at present It will soon be harder to claim item 41647, but time-based consultation items should sufficiently cover simpler methods for ear clearing.