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Expanded role and funding for GPs in managing COVID-19
GPs will receive pulse oximeters and access to a new MBS item number in a plan designed to boost the role of primary care in managing the pandemic.
GPs will be able to access new MBS number for $25 to help cover the extra cost of seeing COVID-positive patients in person.
New measures have been announced to help primary care manage COVID-19 in the community and reduce the burden on hospitals.
Under the Department of Health (DoH) plan, which was announced by the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday, a new MBS number for $25 will be introduced to help GPs cover the extra cost of seeing COVID-positive patients in person.
General practices will also be supplied with pulse oximeters from the national medical stockpile through Primary Health Networks to help the monitoring of symptomatic patients at home.
Minister Hunt also confirmed that 150 GP-led respiratory clinics around the country will stay in place until at least June next year, and that Healthdirect will support COVID-19-positive patient contact and triage.
He described the measures, which are part of a $180 million package to support primary care, as the ‘next phase as we open up’.
More people will be treated at home because they are fully vaccinated, Minister Hunt said.
‘They may not require hospitalisation, so the balance will shift from hospitalisation to community care,’ the minister told reporters. ‘To assist our GPs, we always knew we were coming to this moment. We are very pleased to be able to support them.
‘It’s a package we have worked on with the Royal Australian College of GPs and other members within the medical community.’
During the press conference, Minister Hunt again paid tribute to the work carried out by GPs as ‘the backbone’ of the pandemic response.
RACGP President Dr Karen Price, who appeared alongside Minister Hunt when the announcement was made, welcomed the new measures.
‘It is good news that the Federal Government has heeded the RACGP’s calls and introduced this suite of measures to help hardworking GPs care for COVID-19-positive patients,’ Dr Price said.
‘We must be upfront about the fact that COVID-19 cases are going to spike significantly across Australia. GPs stand ready to help, we have the right skills and expertise to continue caring for COVID-19-positive patients in the community.’
Dr Price said that while some patients, particularly those who are unvaccinated, will need hospital care, most will be able to be monitored at home as part of a triaging process – taking some of the strain off the public health system.
‘Our hospitals are already under enormous pressure, including caring for unvaccinated patients suffering from severe effects of COVID-19.
‘So it’s vital we do everything we can to keep patients out of hospital and that includes caring for people with COVID-19 in the community where possible.’
Dr Price welcomed the MBS item for face-to-face visits as ‘a positive step forward’ and said the use of Healthdirect for patient contact and triage was ‘important for national consistency’.
‘Many COVID-19-positive patients will be able to take advantage of telehealth services, including via video or telephone,’ she said. ‘Some consultations, however, need to happen in person and, when that is necessary, general practice teams will be working hard to maintain COVID-19-safe infection controls to keep staff and patients safe.
‘The new MBS item will help offset the cost of having these controls in place.’
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Price said the new measures are the result of unprecedented cooperation between different jurisdictions.
‘It also signals a new era in what I would call an integrated health system, in which the state health system, which is largely hospital-based, and the community health system ... are working together for Australia’s health system,’ she told reporters.
‘If there is a silver lining, I hope that’s one that will continue.’
Dr Price said it is essential for general practices to be kept informed when patients have contracted COVID-19 if the plan is to be successful. There have been numerous reports during the recent Delta outbreak, both in New South Wales and Victoria, where general practices have been unaware of patients with COVID-19.
‘We need to be told right away when one of our patients tests positive to COVID-19, not days or weeks later,’ Dr Price said. ‘Otherwise, we will see situations unfolding where patients are forced to call ambulances and taken to already over-stretched hospitals where this potentially could have been avoided.’
Other measures announced on Friday include moves to support the capacity of the hospital system to cope with an expected spike in cases, including measures to facilitate the recruitment of healthcare workers.
The new MBS item number has not yet been confirmed. This story will be updated as soon as newsGP has the details.
DoH measures that will affect GPs
- GPs who are supervising COVID-positive patients will be supplied with pulse oximeters from the national medical stockpile to help the remote monitoring of symptomatic patients at home. This will be managed by the PHNs.
- A new, temporary MBS item for $25 will be available to help general practices cover the extra cost of treating COVID-positive patients face-to-face and ensuring COVID-safe infection controls.
- The operation of the GP-led respiratory clinic network will be extended until the end of June 2022. The DoH says these clinics could be scaled up to help manage the care of COVID-positive patients face to face.
- Home visits required to help avoid patients unnecessarily going to hospital – the management of which may not be possible for smaller practices and in areas with workforce shortages. Under the plan announced on Friday, PHNs will contract the provision of home visits through medical deputising services, nurse practitioners and practice nurses.
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