RACGP questions chronic disease funding ‘vacuum of information’

New details have been released about the looming overhaul of Chronic Condition Management (CCM) MBS items, but the information has done little to alleviate growing concern and confusion among GPs.
 
The Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) says the major changes to existing MBS items for CCM will ‘simplify, streamline, and modernise the arrangements for health professionals’ by removing a multitude of previous items.
 
The number of MBS items GPs can use for CCM will be reduced to four and will come into effect on 1 November this year.
 
The new Government factsheet was released late on Friday in a bid to address GPs’ concerns and questions about the major shake-up, covering what the changes are, why they are being made, and what they mean for providers.
 
But the Federal Government has not provided details on how the new model will be funded, which RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins says has GPs concerned.
 
‘As a practice owner I’m currently looking at staffing levels, practice viability and modelling, and these changes happen on 1 November, which is just over two months away, and we don’t have any detail about the funding arrangement,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘We have a vacuum of information, and practices are now starting to make decisions about whether they privately bill care plans or not.
 
‘The lack of information is causing anger and uncertainty.’

While Dr Higgins welcomes CCM telehealth options and reduced paperwork, she says the Government needs to provide funding information urgently.
 
Data from the National Health Survey shows that one in two Australians live with a chronic condition.
 
The RACGP has previously called on the Federal Government to guarantee that there will be no funding losses when the changes roll out.
 
An RACGP submission released earlier this year said Medicare rebates are putting healthcare out of reach for those with a chronic condition, and that patients with complex conditions need more time with GPs than current funding levels can provide.
 
Despite calling on an increase in CCM funding earlier this year, Dr Higgins says she is worried the move to streamline these MBS items will instead be accompanied by funding decreases.
 
She said many GPs currently bulk bill these items, but if funding is not increased, they may be forced to start charging patients a fee.
 
‘Funding should be increased, not decreased, and my concern is this could essentially put the chronic disease program at risk,’ Dr Higgins said.
 
‘I’m calling on the Government to add the bulk-billing incentive to chronic disease plans to ensure they remain accessible for patients.’
 
In the new arrangement items for GP management plans (229, 721, 92024, 92055), team care arrangements (230, 723, 92025, 92056) and reviews (233, 732, 920278, 92059) will cease.
 
The new MBS items address the development of a CCM plan, through face-to-face or telehealth, and the review of those plans.
 
The current requirement to collaborate with at least two other providers will also be removed and referral letters will be used, instead of the allied health services form.
 
Anyone with a management plan in place with their GP prior to 1 November will be able to continue to access services for two years.
 
newsGP has contacted the DoHAC for comment.
 
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bulk billing chronic conditions chronic disease care chronic disease management plan general practice funding MBS MBS items Medicare