News

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In Practice: Medicare compliance priorities and processes

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This week’s In Practice also includes updates to the RACGP MBS online tool to reflect 1 July changes, a medicines safety update on the correct administration of RSV vaccines, and interviews for an independent evaluation of the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive.
 
Upcoming Medicare compliance webinars
The RACGP will host two webinars on Medicare compliance in July. These will be facilitated by RACGP President Dr Michael Wright and presented by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) and the Professional Services Review (PSR).
 
These sessions will outline what GPs need to know about the Medicare compliance process, compliance priorities, item numbers that commonly prompt compliance investigations, and where to find support and information.
 
Both webinars are free for both members and non-members to attend.
 
Medicare compliance (presented by DoHDA)
Webinar: Wednesday 16 July, 7.00–8.00 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1 EA hours

The role of the PSR
Webinar: Tuesday 22 July, 7.00–8.00 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1 EA hours
 
Updated RACGP MBS resources
The guides in the RACGP’s MBS online tool have been updated with indexed rebate amounts as of 1 July 2025, along with new item numbers for chronic disease management and women’s health assessments.
 
The RACGP has also updated its MBS education page with links to new resources such as explanatory notes and fact sheets. The ‘chronic disease management’, ‘health assessments’ and ‘vaccinations’ tabs include the latest updates.
 
An overview of key changes to the MBS from 1 July affecting GPs is available here.
 
Independent evaluation of the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive
Nous Group will be conducting interviews to support the evaluation of the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) from July 2025.
 
Nous will speak to GPs and managers of general practices to understand key themes identified through recent surveys, the variation in uptake and causative factors, and experiences delivering primary care under the Incentive.
 
Recognising that primary care stakeholders are often time constrained, the evaluation interviews will:

• be virtual via Microsoft Teams, or phone, unless otherwise agreed
• reimbursed at a rate of $150 per hour
• vary in length (15–90 minutes) depending on preference and if the session is for an individual or group
• adopt a flexible approach to interviews, providing a range of possible times in and out of business hours.

Those interested in participating in reimbursed interviews to support the evaluation of the GPACI can complete a short form.
 
Filling out the EOI does not guarantee you will be contacted for consultation, as some demographics may be overrepresented.
 
Medicines safety update
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has published a medicines safety update, ‘Correct administration of RSV vaccine and antibody products’.
 
It comes in response to reports received by the TGA of product administration errors related to RSV prevention products and is intended to help educate healthcare professionals on RSV prevention products and prevent further administration errors.
 
GP management of alcohol and other drug use
Webinar: Wednesday 13 August, 6.00–8.30 pm (AWST)
CPD: 1 EA hour and 1 RP hour
Register here
 
Join RACGP Western Australia for dinner and discussion at its evening session on GP management of alcohol and other drug use.
 
This session will review the key components of the main substances (alcohol, sedative/hypnotics, opioids, methamphetamine and tobacco) followed by case-based discussion, presented by Dr Mike Christmass, Adjunct Clinical Associate and Professor Consult in Addiction Medicine.
 
Mental Health Standards for GPs
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration is responsible for establishing standards of education and training for the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative.
 
The standards provide information for GPs on mental health education and training, as well as outlining types of continuing professional development (CPD) activities to ensures GPs’ skills and knowledge in mental health are up to date and broad ranging.
 
The Mental health training standards 2023–25: A guide for general practitioners is available for GPs who wish to find out about:

• the standards of mental health training and education that GPs must meet in order to be eligible to access general practice mental health care MBS item numbers under the Better Access initiative
• what they should consider when selecting CPD in mental health so that their skills and knowledge in mental health are up to date and broad ranging.

The learning outcomes relating to practice systems and strategies to provide safe and holistic mental health care now include topics relating to GPs’ self-care and wellbeing.
 
National Ageing Research Institute Annual Summit
Members can attend the National Ageing Research Institute’s Annual Summit on Tuesday 12 August in Melbourne.
 
Themed ‘Advantage age: The value of older people in the workforce’, the event brings together leading policymakers, advocates, researchers, executives, industry participants and community members from across Australia to explore innovative approaches to ageing well.
 
This year’s theme will focus on the importance of recruiting and retaining workers as they age, and the various considerations required to create healthy, safe and inclusive working environments for older people.
 
The Summit’s keynote speaker is Professor Roger Wilkins, Co-Director of the HILDA Survey Project and Deputy Director of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, who will present the latest economic, social and demographic trends relating to workforce ageing and labour market outcomes.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

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compliance Medicare 'Professional PSR Review' Services

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