DoH confirms personal attendance not needed to claim MBS COVID vaccine numbers

GPs will not be required to personally attend to each vaccine distributed as part of the coronavirus vaccine rollout, according to a new Federal Government fact sheet.
 
Concerns had previously been raised by RACGP President Dr Karen Price that such a requirement would kill GP involvement in the program ‘dead in the water’.
 
However, the latest information, published ahead of the 16 new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers going live in March, indicates that the patient must only receive a face-to-face attendance by a GP or ‘suitably qualified health professional’.
 
Under these arrangements, a vaccination may be provided by an endorsed enrolled nurse employed by a general practice, provided they are under the supervision of a registered nurse and have completed the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine training.
 
The fact sheet states that while a GP must accept ‘full responsibility for the service’, they need only be present ‘at the location at which the vaccine suitability assessment service is undertaken’ and where the vaccine is administered.
 
Dr Price told newsGP she is relieved to have clarity from the Department of Health (DoH).
 
‘The college had been very clear during negotiations that requiring a GP to be present and administer every single vaccine would not be feasible, so I am grateful that the department has heard our concerns,’ she said.
 
‘Our highly trained practice nurses are more than capable of working in partnership with GPs to administer these vaccines and be alert to any potential clinical issues that may arise – as evidenced by the unfortunate situation that occurred recently in Queensland.
 
‘With this stumbling block now cleared, general practices can concentrate on ensuring everything is in readiness for next month’s life-saving rollout of COVID vaccines.’
 
Once the MBS items go live next month, details of the item descriptors and an explanatory note will be available on MBS Online. GPs will be able to find this information by searching for ‘COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment’.
 
In order for someone to receive a vaccine, a GP or suitably qualified health professional will be expected to use their clinical judgement to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria.
 
The vaccine suitability assessment service is free to patients and the MBS items must be bulk billed. Patients are expected to receive an MBS vaccine suitability assessment service at the time they are given each of the two Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines doses.
 
However, in certain circumstances, a GP may have to bill Medicare for more than two MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment services for the same patient.
 
‘For instance, a patient who is assessed as suitable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but who continues to have concerns about the vaccine and wants time to consider if they should receive it, may receive a suitability assessment service without choosing to have a vaccination,’ it states.
 
‘In this situation, even though the patient has not received a vaccination, the appropriate MBS COIVD-19 suitability assessment item may be billed.
 
‘If the patient returns at a later date, having decided that they do wish to receive a vaccination, a further suitability assessment would need to be undertaken, and billed to Medicare using the relevant item number.’
 
While rebates for the new vaccine suitability assessment services will be paid at 85% of the new item fees, these fee amounts have been increased so that they are at the same level as the rebates detailed in the Expression of Interest (EOI) documentation.
 
The Government has advised that more than 4600 general practices have had their EOIs accepted, and the DoH is in the process of advising successful applicants.
 
Dr Price said the strong response shows GPs ‘overwhelmingly’ want to be able to vaccinate their patients.
 
‘We want to see every practice that wants to provide these vaccinations to be able to do so,’ she said.
 
‘We need to get to the point where COVID-19 vaccinations are part of usual patient care as soon as we can.
 
‘However, we appreciate that not all practices can be involved in the first stages of the rollout as supply of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine will be limited. The 4600 practices approved to participate in the rollout will come on in phases.’
 
Dr Price also acknowledged that while many patients will want to get the vaccine from their usual GP, it may not always be possible – particularly during the early stages of the rollout.
 
‘There is high demand for the vaccine, and we need to get it out quickly. I implore patients to please be patient and understanding – and if you do have questions or concerns, call your GP,’ she said.
 
‘I want to reassure GPs that practices participating in the rollout will be receiving information and guidance to support them in delivering the vaccine and the logistics that will entail. 
 
‘I know practices will be gearing up and making all the necessary preparations to help in this mammoth effort, including completing the mandatory training modules.
 
‘I have great confidence that our GPs are up to this task, and I want to thank them for their efforts because I know many are going above and beyond to make this happen for their patients.’
 
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coronavirus COVID-19 MBS vaccinations vaccine rollout