News
In Practice: GP24 early bird registration extended
Due to popular demand, the discounted registrations for the Perth conference have been extended to 7 October.
GP24 will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 21–23 November, on Whadjuk Noongar Country.
This week’s In Practice also includes information on how to apply for the Future Leaders program, the gradual discontinuing of earlier generation insulin products, and a new member resource on introducing mixed billing in practice.
GP24 early bird extended until Monday 7 October
The RACGP has extended GP24 early bird registrations for a limited time due to popular demand. If you missed your chance, now is the time to register for GP24 and secure your discounted spot.
Highlights of the Perth conference include:
Early bird will not be extended again,
so make sure you register before Monday 7 October, 11.59 pm (AEDT).
GP24 will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 21–23 November, on Whadjuk Noongar Country. There are also optional pre-conference workshops on offer on 20 November.
New guide for introducing mixed billing in practice
The RACGP has published a new resource ‘
A guide to introducing mixed billing in your practice‘, which is intended for GPs and practice owners who are considering a transition to a mixed billing model to improve the viability of their practice and generate additional income to cover rising operating costs.
The guide contains tips and information to support GPs to educate their patients about the value of general practice care and explain why a gap fee is necessary.
In addition, the guide also contains information on the following areas:
- explaining Medicare to patients – key points to guide GPs and practice staff to explain the rebate system to patients and the reason why fees need to be introduced
- using the RACGP billing calculator – guidance to assist GPs and practice owners to determine if they are meeting their financial goals
- deciding which patients to privately bill – information and guidance on the key factors that can influence how GPs bill
- strategies to support ongoing business viability – alternative income options for practices to cover costs associated with providing general practice services
This and other RACGP resources on billing
can be found here.
Future Leaders program applications now open
Applications for the 2025 Future Leaders Program are officially open until 10 November.
This fully funded program offers 37 CPD hours – 21 in educational activities and 16 in reviewing performance activities. You’ll gain expert guidance, access essential resources and uncover the core values that shape your leadership.
Do not miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and make an impact in the future of general practice.
Apply online.
Changes to chronic disease management items webinar postponed
The Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has advised that planned changes to MBS chronic disease management items
have been postponed until 1 July 2025. Information about the changes and the amended timeframe can be found on
DoHAC’s website.
As a result of this decision,
the RACGP’s planned webinar on the changes, originally scheduled for 9 October 2024, will be postponed. It will be rescheduled next year in advance of the new implementation date.
If you have any questions, please email
healthreform@racgp.org.au.
Discontinuations of Novo Nordisk Insulin Products
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has recently notified the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that it will gradually discontinue some of its earlier generation insulin products over the next two years.
Novo Nordisk has announced that, in some cases, although one presentation of a product is discontinued, the product will remain available in a different presentation.For example, the FlexTouch prefilled pen may be replaced by a penfill cartridge. These discontinuations are not related to product safety, quality or effectiveness.
To help patients and healthcare professionals manage these discontinuations,
the TGA has published an information page. This statement will be updated as the TGA receives information from the sponsor and other stakeholders.
The TGA has also inquired with Novo Nordisk about the supply of Novopens, in anticipation of the increase in demand for penfill presentations. Novo Nordisk responded that it expects supply of Novopens to meet the increased demand from these discontinuations.
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