The past 18 months have brought us much change. Some has been good; some not so good. Working from home has moved from code for ‘about to be sacked’ to the distributed workforce v1.0. All professions have learned to work through the pandemic. GPs are no exception. Telehealth has been our main tool for this.
We have always had the ability to do a lot of our work via the phone – but the funding model has never aligned with this. The friction of taking payment and the rules of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) have combined to force sick patients into waiting rooms, driving from their homes, to spread their bugs…just to get their insurance rebate for medical services.
PartridgeGP was in the vanguard of telehealth adoption, drawing upon our experience from rural and hospital work providing services by phone. Phone is where it’s at. We have Zoom, we have fancy teleconference abilities, but ill patients, the elderly, and those not blessed with fantastic IT and internet just want the phone. We are here to serve.
TELEHEALTH MEDICARE REBATES WILL END ON 31 MARCH 2021!
The AMA has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is the acting Health Minister, calling on the Federal Government to extend until the end of the year temporary telehealth arrangements under Medicare that have supported patients to have a consultation with their doctor either over the phone or by video.
These arrangements, which were put in place as part of the Government’s COVID-19 response and further extended last year, will end on 31 March if not extended.
“The current uncertainty over the future of temporary COVID-19 Medicare telehealth items means that patients and practices can’t plan consultations beyond the end of this month, even though we are still in the middle of the pandemic,” AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said.
If you want the safety and convenience of YOUR rebate for general practice services by telephone continued – contact YOUR MP and let them know!
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now with new vaccines here to END the pandemic. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
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For everyone, we believe that having a usual GP or General Practice is central to each person’s care and recommend that people with any health issues that come to the attention of other health professionals should be advised to attend their usual GP or General Practice rather than a specialised service (ie a place not providing the holistic care a specialist GP would). If they say that they don’t have a usual GP or general practice, they should be helped to find one and to actually attend it. Call PartridgeGP on 82953200 or make an appointment online here.
(Hat tip: Dr Oliver Frank)
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If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
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