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.
Joint COVID infection control guidelines expected within weeks The new recommendations are being assessed by ICEG and the National COVID-19 Evidence Taskforce as part of the final approval process.
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.
Questions over timing as 201 GPs sent ‘please explain’ letter on anaesthetics billing Is now the right time for a new compliance letter as Australia’s GPs prepare for their role in the COVID vaccination push? GPs say no.
Boosting GP stewardship through block funding The MBS is set for a shake-up, with the Review Taskforce recommending more use of block or blended payment models rather than fee-for-service funding.