News

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In Practice: telehealth and billing updates

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The final In Practice round up for 2021 also includes the mid-year Federal Budget updates relevant to general practice, upcoming changes to rural and remote bulk-billing incentives, and a social media webinar.
 
Telehealth changes for the new year
From 1 January 2022, patient access to telehealth services will be supported by ongoing MBS arrangements.
 
A number of changes to MBS telehealth items will be introduced in the new year, including:
 

• a new Level C telephone consultation item for patients in Modified Monash Model (MMM) areas 6–7
• removal of the current Level C telephone items for COVID-19 hotspots
• extension of MBS items for nicotine and smoking cessation services to 31 December 2023, and sexual and reproductive health services and non-directive pregnancy support counselling to 30 June 2023
• inclusion of telehealth items in the calculation of Standardised Whole Patient Equivalent (SWPE) calculations, which determine the value of PIP and WIP payments
• updated Medicare compliance rules to include telehealth services in the prescribed pattern of practice (the 80/20 rule), with a new ‘30/20’ rule for telephone services
• removal of superseded pre-COVID telehealth and associated items to avoid different MBS items for the same service.

 
Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook
There are a number of key measures relevant to general practice in the 2021−22 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) released on 16 December:
 

• $106 million over four years for a permanent telehealth scheme
• $45.1 million over four years to support doctors in rural and remote Australia, including $19.9 million to waive HELP debts
• $58.8 million to continue providing additional mental health support under the MBS Better Access initiative until 31 December 2022
• $2.1 million over two years to develop options for a wound consumables scheme
• $277.8 million over two years to continue the health response to COVID-19
• $200.9 million over two years to support the primary care system through the COVID-19 pandemic − this includes $121.8 million to extend the operational timeframe of GP-led respiratory clinics to 30 June 2022, and $22.3 million for pulse oximeters and PHNs to assist in distributing these devices and PPE from the National Medical Stockpile

 
Changes to rural bulk-billing incentives
MBS bulk-billing incentives for GPs in rural and remote areas will be increased from 1 January 2022.
 
New items will be created for doctors in:
 

• MMM areas 3–4 (75855, 64992, 75861), valued at 160% of the fee for the relevant metropolitan area item/s
• MMM area 5 (75856, 64993, 75862), valued at 170% of the fee for the relevant metropolitan area item/s
• MMM area 6 (75857, 64994, 75863), valued at 180% of the fee for the relevant metropolitan area item/s
• MMM area 7 (75858, 64995, 75864), valued at 190% of the fee for the relevant metropolitan area item/s.

 
Existing rural bulk-billing incentive items (10991, 64991, 74991) will remain in place for doctors in MMM area 2. The fees for these items will remain at 150% of the fee for the relevant metropolitan area item.
 
Emerging social media strategies
Webinar: Wednesday 5 January 2022, 7.30 pm (AEDT)
 
In this free webinar, GPs can learn more about:
 

• the three most effective social media strategies to successfully attract new patients in 2022
• the role of social media in relationship marketing
• how to use social media to establish healthcare leadership within the community
• systems to help GPs and practice staff plan and implement social media strategies as a team to reduce burden from practice owners.

 
The webinar features real-life examples for GPs to draw inspiration from, with a live Q&A session which will also be recorded.
 
Register online.
 
First Practice Owners Masterclass − February 2022
General practice owners can now register for the first in the RACGP’s masterclasses in the 2022 series, in Brisbane on 19 February.
 
Each Practice Owners Masterclass is a one-day interactive workshop built around an existing clinic case study of two GP owners, with the aim to walk through the development of a successful business and strategic plan.
 
Participants will learn more about:
 

• developing a business and strategic plan
• accounting and financials
• getting the best out of practice staff
• patients and services
• doctor payments.

 
The educational workshop is a CPD Accredited Activity eligible for 40 CPD points.
 
Register online.
 
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Federal Budget In Practice MBS billing rural and remote telehealth

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