Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have a long-standing history of supporting local general practices and have heard a consistent message from practices across Australia that there is a need for a user guide for Medicare Benefits for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GP ACI).
This resource will support General Practices to plan their delivery of care for the Incentive and provide examples of how to use MBS items to meet the requirements of this incentive and is available here.
There are three main general practice Sample schedules (pages 3-8) reflected in this user guide:
- Responsible Provider Only– where a single GP delivers all care to the resident.
- Responsible Provider + Alternative Provider– where other members of the practice team also deliver care to the resident including other GPs, Prescribed medical practitioners and Nurse practitioners.
- Responsible Provider + Other care team members – where other members of the practice team also include visits delivered by practice nurses or Aboriginal Health Workers, in addition to other GPs, Prescribed medical practitioners and Nurse practitioners.
The guide incorporates a variation of sample schedules that describes how telehealth items could be billed for practices in MMM 4 – 7. The guide also includes Example Annual Cycle including estimated billings (pages 11 -14) to support your practice to deliver the proactive and regular planned care required to meet the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive. PHNs across the country have collaborated to design this user guide to develop this important resource and continue to work as a connected network to support local change management in primary care for MyMedicare.
There are a range of ways your practice could use the guide including:
- Identify the Sample Schedule and Example Annual Cycle billing scenario that best suits your practice team and setting. Print these or share them with your practice team to inform care planning for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive.
- Review your historical billing practices for Residential Aged Care Home patients and use the guide to develop a quick PDSA (Plan – Do – Study – Act) to identify any improvements you could make to billing and care practices.
- Plan care for your residential aged care patients 3 – 6 months ahead by booking appointments for residential aged care visits each month using the Example Annual Cycle as a guide. Consider how you can group visits to a residential aged care home in your practice booking system to maximize efficiency of clinician time.
- Meet with your practice team to reflect on the guide, and identify opportunities for practice nurses, Aboriginal health workers and other doctors to support or deliver care. For example, could practice nurses to work alongside doctors at aged care visits to work up care planning and make the visit more efficient for your practice, residential aged care homes, and patients you care for that are residents of aged care homes?
Like general practice, PHNs are committed to quality improvement, and we welcome feedback on this resource. Please provide all feedback via your local PHN. The National PHN MyMedicare Implementation Program will then review the resource and release an updated version incorporating suggestions and ideas from practices across Australia.
Short Video Series
The following short (2 – 5 minute) video series produced by South East Melbourne PHN featuring Dr Billy Stoupas quickly explains MyMedicare and the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive from the perspective of a GP.
- Video 1- MyMedicare and an overview of GP ACI https://youtu.be/tFNUhZZpy9o
- Video 2- GP ACI and service eligibility requirements https://youtu.be/jlFYDB5D4T8
- Video 3- Information on registration https://youtu.be/xcPMx2jaRq8
Patient information about MyMedicare
Patient Brochures- mymedicare-dl-brochure.pdf (health.gov.au)
Patient Videos- Introducing MyMedicare | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Registering in MyMedicare | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Other useful links and information
MyMedicare Common Errors Resource – https://practicesupport.org.au/web/assets/images/MyMedicare-common-Errors-Resource.pdf
Step-by-step guidance: MyMedicare and GPACI program and patient registration (Healthy North Coast) – https://hnc.org.au/primary-care-impact-topics/mymedicare-and-gpaci-program-and-patient-registration/
