News
In Practice: Temporary telehealth exemption
Until at least 31 March, high-risk COVID patients seeking PCR testing will not need to have an established clinical relationship to access telehealth.
High-risk COVID patients seeking PCR testing do not need to have an established clinical relationship to access telehealth.
This week’s In Practice also includes urgent information for registered providers of Focussed Psychological Strategies who have not yet completed CPD requirements for the 2020–22 triennium, and details on next month’s International Medicine in Addiction (IMiA) Conference.
COVID-19 high-risk group temporary exemption
A temporary exemption from the established clinical relationship requirement for telehealth consultations is in place for high-risk COVID patients until 31 March.
The rule is defined as having had at least one face-to-face consultation with the GP, or another practitioner at the same practice, within the 12 months preceding the telehealth service.
Under these new arrangements, any GP or other medical practitioner (OMP) can provide a telehealth consultation to patients who meet all of the following criteria:
- Do not meet the established clinical relationship requirement
- Are eligible for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for antiviral therapy
- Are experiencing acute respiratory symptoms
- Are seeking a request to a private pathologist for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing in relation to COVID-19
These changes will enable high-risk patients to continue to have timely access to PCR testing over the summer holiday period.
Visit
MBS Online for more information.
Urgent – Focussed Psychological Strategies CPD Compliance
Registered providers of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) who have not yet completed their FPS CPD requirements for the 2020–22 triennium, and have not spoken to the GPMHSC, should contact the
GPMHSC secretariat immediately.
GPs have until February to complete the required compliance before being deregistered by Medicare and losing access to the FPS item numbers.
IMiA 2023 – Full program available
GPs are well placed to help patients struggling with addiction, providing non-judgemental support, treatment, and referral.
Registrations are now open for next month’s International Medicine in Addiction (IMiA) Conference.
The conference provides an opportunity to learn from, meet and collaborate with other health professionals with an interest in addressing the complex issues that come from addiction.
The event – a collaboration between the RACGP, Royal Australian College of Physicians, and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists – will present a diverse and thought-provoking program which will cover the latest in addiction research and clinical practice.
IMiA23 will be held in Melbourne Friday to Sunday 17–19 February.
More information, including the full program, is available on the
IMiA23 website.
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