News
In Practice: Medicare compliance FAQs
The new resource outlines the different types of compliance activities, with a specific focus on targeted letters.
Early bird registrations are now open for the RACGP’s annual general practice conference in November.
This week’s bumper edition of In Practice also includes a reminder about an ongoing practice viability survey, CPD events, GP24 details, and the opportunity to help promote the Medical Costs Finder website.
Medicare compliance FAQs
The RACGP has developed a new FAQ resource on the Medicare compliance process.
The FAQs outline the different types of compliance activities, with a specific focus on targeted compliance letters (the most common compliance intervention). Topics covered include:
- how the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) decides who receives a targeted compliance letter
- what circumstances could trigger further compliance action after receiving a letter
- whether it is mandatory to respond to a letter
- the purpose of the Practitioner Review Program (PRP)
- the 80/20 and 30/20 prescribed pattern of service rules.
Last chance to complete practice viability survey
GPs, private allied health providers, practice managers, practice nurses and practice owners are invited to
complete a short survey aimed at
understanding the pandemic’s impacts on Australian practices and their financial outlook.
Due to popular demand, the survey is open for one more week, closing on 8 July.
Early bird registrations for GP24 are now open
The RACGP’s annual general practice conference will this year take place in Perth from 21–23 November.
GP24 offers a chance to connect with peers and industry leaders over three days of inspiring presentations, networking events and interactive workshops.
Members can book their spot today for early bird ticket prices and save on accommodation. For more information
visit the RACGP website.
General Practice in Addiction Conference fast approaching
Date: Saturday, 27 July
Venue: Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne
Time: 9.00 am – 7.00 pm (AEST)
Enhance your ability to support patients with addiction and substance-use disorders by attending the RACGP General Practice in Addiction (GPADD) Conference.
Kick off the day with Jane Dicka’s keynote on the impact of stigma in healthcare, followed by a special session on burnout and self-care led by Shawn Goldberg and Dr Aadhil Aziz.
Register online.
GPs wanted to feature in video for Medical Costs Finder website
DoHAC is seeking expressions of interest from GPs wanting to feature in a short video for the
Medical Costs Finder website.
The Medical Costs Finder helps patients understand the costs for medical services, including typical fees and out-of-pocket costs. The video will contribute to increasing patient awareness and understanding of private healthcare costs in Australia.
Selected participants will be asked to discuss:
- what GPs consider before referring patients to a specialist
- what patients should know when seeking private treatment.
Interested GPs can email
OOPTransparency@health.gov.au for further information.
New on-demand webinar: Digital health Q&A session
RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management member Dr David Adam leads a Q&A discussion on digital health tools in general practice. Discussion topics include:
- Provider Connect Australia
- electronic prescribing
- My Health Record
- sharing patient data.
After providing some introductory information on each of these topics, Dr Adam then addresses relevant questions submitted by those who registered for the live webinar.
This on-demand webinar is accredited for one CPD educational activity hour and was developed in collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency.
View the webinar.
New RACGP Specific Interests ‘Zoomapalooza’ event
Online workshop: Saturday 3 August, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm (AEST)
CPD: 3 RP
Cost
: $55
GPs looking to gain CPD Reviewing Performance hours who have an interest in obesity management, pain management, or musculoskeletal, sport and exercise medicine, can attend the latest ‘Zoomapalooza’ for three hours of case-based discussion.
Led by the Chairs of these three RACGP Specific Interest groups, attendees will spend an hour on each subject and rotate through all three, in a safe, reflective space.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own cases along to this interactive CPD activity.
Register online.
Optimising cervical screening for people with disability
Webinar: Thursday 18 July, 7.00 – 8.30 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1.5 EA hours
RACGP Specific Interests, with partners The Daffodil Centre and Centre for Disability Studies, are delighted to offer a repeat session of this webinar, focused on supporting cervical screening for patients living with disability.
With expert insights from disability advocate Tricia Malowney, Professor Deborah Bateson and Dr Lara Roeske, this webinar will explore the barriers and facilitators to cervical screening in people with disability along with the strategies, techniques, tools and resources that you can use to confidently support these patients.
Those who attended the first session in May can register to refresh their knowledge and learn more about how to best support screening for patients with disability.
Register online.
RACGP Tasmania Peer Group Learning Supper Series
Peer Group Learning utilises peer support, interaction, reflection, and feedback to enhance participants’ clinical competence, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and performance.
Sessions will consist of at least 50% case-based discussions and provide the opportunity for experience sharing and peer feedback. Sessions will be facilitated by local subject matter experts.
When: First Thursday of every second month, 7.00 – 8.30pm
Where: RACGP Office, 62 Patrick Street Hobart
CPD: Each session is eligible for 1.5 hours RP
Food: Light refreshments will be served
RSVP:
tas.events@racgp.org.au
Sessions will be capped at 20 participants, so RSVP is essential.
1 August: Voluntary assisted dying, a practical perspective.
Facilitated by Anna Mayo, Manager Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, and Dr Jenny Connor.
3 October: ‘As much skin cancer medicine as I can cram into a session’.
Facilitated by Dr Delfin Sanson, Fellow of the Skin Cancer College Australasia, Board Member of the Skin Cancer College Australasia, Masters of Medicine (skin cancer), Professional Diploma Skin Cancer Surgery.
5 December: Persistent pelvic pain – from chaos to calm.
Facilitated by Rachel Andrew, APA titled Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and Dr Emily Ware, Women's Health GP Specialist.
GP Research Project Noticeboard
RACGP GP Research Project Noticeboard presents research projects that GPs can get involved in.
Current projects on the Noticeboard include surveys on health data management, primary care practice viability, and digital tools to support adolescent mental healthcare.
The RACGP supports GPs undertaking research that contributes to the knowledge base of the profession, and has a list of projects which GPs can contribute to. GPs can also submit their research projects to the noticeboard to invite participation from the general practice community.
Veterans’ Provisional Access to Medical Treatment extended
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
Provisional Access to Medical Treatment (PAMT) program has been extended by a further two years.
PAMT enables eligible veterans who have submitted a claim for one or more of the 20 most commonly DVA accepted conditions, to receive provisional medical and allied health treatment for those conditions while their claims are being considered.
Veterans can now register to participate in the program up to 30 June 2026. Veterans who register their claim with DVA by that date can continue to receive treatment under the program until 31 December 2026.
Log in below to join the conversation.
compliance CPD GP24 In Practice Medical Costs Finder Medicare veterans’ health
newsGP weekly poll
Do you think changes are needed to make the PBS authority approval process more streamlined for GPs?