Aged Care Access InitiativePaul Greenhalgh

 

 

Program Manager:  Paul Greenhalgh

Email:  p.greenhalgh@gpasouthgippsland.com.au

 


Funded by:  Department of Health and Ageing

 

The Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) supports improving access to GP and allied health services for residents of aged care facilities across through two separate components as follows:
  • A payment for clinical care provided by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in RACFs, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements. This component of the ACAI will be managed by GPA South Gippsland.

  • An incentive payment through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) to encourage GPs to provide more services in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The incentive recognises some of the difficulties faced by GPs in providing care in these settings and aims to encourage GPs to continue to provide increased and continuing services in RACFs. The PIP payments will be administered through Medicare Australia. GPA South Gippsland will not be directly involved with this aspect of the ACAI.
 
Role of GPA South Gippsland
The division is the holder of the initiatives funds.
It employs the Allied Health Professionals on a contract basis and liaises with the   Residential Aged Care Facilities to find    mutually agreeable times for them to visit.
 
Role of the Residential Aged Care Facilities
To provide the division with a needs assessment to prioritise what allied health services they most need.
 
Allied health Service providers
AHPs have to come under the MBS official allied health group and be accredited by their governing body. This funding is provided for services that are not already covered by Medicare. They will be placed under contract with GPA South Gippsland in a fee for service market rate.



Resources for GP

Step by Step Guidelines for GPs
GPA information brochure - Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI)