News

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In Practice: RACGP Awards now open

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This week’s In Practice also includes the indexed standard attendance rebates set to kick in from July, a call for feedback regarding GPs’ roles in evacuation centres, a hepatitis B webinar, and information on World Multiple Sclerosis Day.
 
RACGP Awards now open
Members who know an extraordinary GP, GP in training, GP supervisor, or general practice can now nominate them for this year’s RACGP Awards.
 
GPs receive all kinds of acknowledgements from their patients, but it is important to formally celebrate this work and dedication to holistic patient care.
 
The RACGP Awards focus on exceptional individuals in Australian general practice, their outstanding achievements, and how they contribute to the health of their community. This year, the RACGP is especially interested to hear about those who are making a difference in rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
 
Visit the RACGP website to nominate.
 
Annual fee indexation 
From 1 July, annual fee indexation of 3.6% will be applied to a wide range of MBS items, including most general medical services items.
 
Now is an ideal time for private and mixed billing practices to review their fee structure so they can go into the new financial year already knowing how patients will be billed.
 
The RACGP’s Medicare Benefits Schedule online tool will be updated on 1 July to reflect the indexation, while members can find the new rebates for standard consultation items in the table below.
 

MBS item number	Description	Old rebate	New rebate
3	Standard attendance, Face-to-face, Level A	$18.20	$18.85
23	Standard attendance, Face-to-face, Level B, <20 minutes	$39.75	$41.20
36	Standard attendance, Face-to-face, Level C, 20-40 minutes	$76.95	$79.70
44	Standard attendance, Face-to-face, Level D, >40 minutes	$113.30	$117.40

 
New rebates for all other items are available via download on MBS Online.  
 
The role and inclusion of GPs in evacuation centres resource
The RACGP in collaboration with, and funding from, North Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) is developing a new resource focused on the role and inclusion of GPs in evacuation centres.
 
The purpose of this resource is to provide guidelines to assist in the integration of general practice healthcare provision in evacuation centres and ensure that the principles and concepts of evacuation planning for general practice are consistent nationally.
 
These guidelines include recommendations on the roles and responsibilities for PHNs coordinating, supporting and administering these services.
 
The RACGP is seeking feedback to assist in the development of this resource and interested members can access the resource on the RACGP’s open consultation page.
 
Feedback should be sent to practicemanagement@racgp.org.au by 16 June.
 
World Multiple Sclerosis Day
Tuesday 30 May is World MS Day, a day to raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis.
 
Did you know that the RACGP is offering accredited training on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other paediatric neuromuscular disorders (such as MS) to help upskill GPs in recognising warning signs and when to refer to a non-GP specialist?
 
Further information and access to training is available online.
 
Hepatitis B in Primary Care
Webinar: Tuesday 13 June, 7.00 – 8.30 pm (AEST)
 
GPs play a crucial role in ensuring improved health outcomes for people with hepatitis B through testing, diagnosis, informed clinical management and support of individuals and families. This webinar will provide GPs with introductory knowledge regarding the care and management of hepatitis B.

In 2020, an estimated 222,559 people were living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Australia, with 27% undiagnosed and 77.4% not engaged in regular care.
 
Guideline-based management and treatment of CHB can prevent liver cancer, with CHB being the primary cause of liver cancer worldwide. GPs are critical to reducing preventable deaths from liver cancer.

This webinar will also highlight and embed strategies and resources for clinicians to assist with increasing the number of people with hepatitis B being managed in a community setting and the benefits of this.
 
Register online.
 
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hepatitis B In Practice MBS RACGP Awards World MS Day

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