In Practice: Updated PSR Guide The new guide outlines what doctors referred to the Professional Services Review can expect at each stage of the proces.
‘Clear and consistent’ telehealth rules to start in September A widely foreshadowed Medical Board crackdown on so-called ‘tick and flick’ prescribing will come into force later this year.
Reproductive healthcare telehealth items extended The move has been welcomed, particularly for women in remote areas, but advocates are calling for the items to be made permanent.
Push for increased telehealth funding ahead of Budget With the Federal Budget around the corner, the RACGP is reiterating calls to improve access and make it a permanent fixture of Medicare.
In Practice: Telehealth exemptions for PCR tests extended Patients who meet the COVID ‘high-risk’ criteria have had the telehealth temporary exemption rule extended to 31 December.
Crackdown on ‘unsafe’ online prescribing underway The Medical Board of Australia has already imposed restrictions on some individuals against issuing prescriptions through telehealth.
Limited evidence behind decision to cut long phone consultations Health researchers want longer phone consultations to be reinstated, saying there was ‘little evidence’ to support the change.
Telehealth expansion ‘informed by robust policy’: Audit Auditors have examined a shift described as ‘10 years of reform in only 10 days,’ and issued several recommendations to Government.
In Practice: Temporary telehealth exemption Until at least 31 March, high-risk COVID patients seeking PCR testing will not need to have an established clinical relationship to access telehealth.
Clampdown on asynchronous patient telehealth prescribing The Medical Board of Australia has signalled a tougher stance in its revised telehealth guidelines, which are currently out for public consultation.