News
In Practice: Last chance for President nominations
Potential nominees have until 1 August to put their name forward to be the next President of the RACGP.
Nominations for the next RACGP President close on 1 August.
This week’s round-up also includes information on MBS changes to mental health services, the benefits of multidisciplinary case conferences and upcoming educational events.
RACGP 2022 presidential nominations closing soon
GPs have an opportunity to be heard and shape the college by nominating to be the next President of the RACGP.
The President is a Board member who has a key role in fostering collaboration between members and acting in the best strategic interests of the RACGP, while ensuring that the aims and objectives of the college are met.
The President also acts as a spokesperson advocating for Australian general practice by liaising with government ministers and officials, regulators, key stakeholders, and the media.
Nomination close on Monday 1 August at 12.00 pm (AEST). Nomination forms and further information is available on the RACGP Elections webpage.
Changes to the MBS
A number of changes to the MBS will take effect from 1 August.
Of particular interest to GPs is a minor amendment relating to the review of a mental health treatment plan item. This change will allow a face-to-face review to be undertaken even if the patient had their initial treatment plan provided under telehealth items. The amendment will apply to videoconference items 92112, 92113, 92116 and 92117.
Other changes will be made to gynaecology, colorectal surgery and diagnostic imaging services. More information is available at MBS Online.
MBS items for multidisciplinary case conferences
On 1 November 2021, six new MBS items were introduced to allow allied health practitioners to receive a payment for participating in multidisciplinary case conferences with the patient’s medical practitioner and other care providers.
The items are available for two patient groups in non-admitted settings:
- Children aged under 13 years to provide early diagnosis and treatment of autism or any other pervasive development disorder under the care of a specialist, consultant physician or GP
- People with chronic disease as part of Team Care Arrangements under the care of a GP
This measure aims to increase the uptake of doctor-led multidisciplinary case conferences, increase collaboration across health professionals, improve care coordination and align providers around delivering the outcomes that matter most to patients.
By incentivising allied health providers to participate in case conferences, those patients who have complex needs and multiple providers will experience better multidisciplinary care. The new items have the same duration as existing case conferencing items currently used by GPs and other specialists, making it easy to coordinate with allied health practitioners.
More information is available on the MBS Online fact sheet for
Allied Health Multidisciplinary Case Conferences.
Updated billing calculator
As part of the RACGP’s
General Practice Business Toolkit, the
billing calculator has been updated to make it
simpler and easier to use.
The new calculator has two tabs – Annual income and Monthly billings.
The Annual income tab calculates annual gross billings required to achieve desired annual income, average patients per year, the average fee required per patient, and average hourly billings required to meet desired income.
The Monthly billings tab allows users to select MBS items and enter the number of services provided, percentage privately billed/bulk billed and practice/private fee. It will calculate predicted annual income and advise whether you have met your goals.
How to read a paper: Navigating the maze
Webinar: Tuesday 2 August, 6.00 – 7.00 pm (AEST)
GPs can improve their skills in better finding and using evidence to help with everyday clinical questions in their practice.
Hosted by Professor Paul Glasziou, this webinar provides an overview of approaches to:
- identify sound evidence more confidently
- sift through evidence critically, know what to look for and why
- identify ways to improve skills in choosing and reading papers.
The
Navigating the maze: Evidence-based practice workbook will also be introduced.
This webinar is designed for anyone interested in research, including students, early career researchers, GPs, and other curious primary care clinicians and service providers.
Register online.
Listening to the heart: Key updates on functions of the pump and valves
Webinar: Wednesday 17 August, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
Eligible for 2 RACGP CPD points
Presented by RACGP Specific Interests, this webinar provides key updates regarding heart valvular disease and diabetes medications.
Dr Gary Deed, Chair of Specific Interests Diabetes and Dr Atef Asham, Chair of Specific Interests Cardiology, and guests will facilitate a review of management guidelines on heart valvular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Register online.
RACGP ‘Mental bites’ webinar series: Eating disorders
Webinar: Thursday 4 August, 1.00 – 1.30 pm (AEST)
Eligible for 1 RACGP CPD point
‘Mental bites’ is a lunch-time webinar series with bite-sized information presented by RACGP Specific Interests Psychological Medicine.
While GPs are aware of mental health assessments, diagnosis and management, this series provides an opportunity to learn more about how to do the work, including the micro-skills of engagement, forming safe and effective therapeutic alliances and communication with patients.
The
sixth webinar in the series will focus on eating disorders and feature a practical skill GPs can use while treating and communicating with patients, as well as a Q&A session with an expert in this field.
Register online.
WONCA Five Star Doctor Award
Members are being encouraged to submit RACGP nominations to the World Organization of Family Doctor’s (WONCA)
Five Star Doctor Award.
The award is presented annually to doctors in each WONCA region, with all regional winners automatically nominated for the Global Five Star Doctor award.
The global winner will receive their award at the WONCA World Conference, which will be held in Sydney next year.
Nominations close on 21 August, with the regional winner to be determined by 10 September.
Further details of how to nominate someone for the regional award can be obtained from the
WONCA Secretariat.
Doctors for the Environment Australia conference
Tickets are now available for the Doctors for the Environment Australia’s
iDEA22 conference, taking place from 2–4 September in Melbourne.
Spread over three days, iDEA22 will bring together climate-conscious doctors, medical students and healthcare professionals from across Australia. With the theme of ‘Time to Act’, iDEA22 will discuss and debate all things climate change and health, including sustainable healthcare.
The conference will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including:
- Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer
- David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific
- Saul Griffith, Australian-American inventor and renewable energy advocate
- Dr Rebecca Huntley, a leading climate communications expert
- Tish King, SeedMob’s Campaigns Director.
More information and to book tickets (both in-person and virtual) is available on the
iDEA22 website.
Women and heart health
Webinar: Tuesday 16 August, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
In the lead up to
Women’s Health Week, the RACGP’s webinar series kicks off with presenters Professor Susan Davis and Associate Professor Sarah Zaman discussing the topic of women and heart health.
This session will support GPs to incorporate heart health in midlife assessments and discuss practice resources.
Register online.
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