Overview
In the recent 08/09 federal budget, the commonwealth announced the restructure of the Aged Care GP Panels to redirect funding from Oct 1st to support primary care service provision in Registered Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) through Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI).The aim is to improve access to primary care (GP and allied health services) for residents of ACHs.
Scope
The ACAI supports improving access to GP and allied health services for residents of ACHs through two separate components:
- An incentive payment through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) to encourage GPs to provide more services to RACFs.
- A payment for clinical care provided by all Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in ACHs, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements.
This program is intended to be over a four year period.
GP Component
• All GPs in practices participating in the Practice incentive Program (PIP) will be eligible for an incentive payment once they have provided a predetermined no. of Medicare-claimable services;
• Funding will be available on a two tiered model and payments will be made automatically by Medicare once predetermined Qualifying Service Levels (QSLs) have been reached.
• Payment will be made available to the GP who provided the services than to the practice.
• MBS items that count towards QSLs include: attendances in RACFs, Comprehensive Medical Assessments, contributions to Care Plans, Case Conferences, and Residential Medication Management Reviews.
Allied Health Component
• GPA South Gippsland have gained approval for the provision to fund any MBS accredited allied health profession to residents of RACFs in our region.
• Allied Health services provided on an individual or group bases are eligible.
• Allied Health services funded under Medicare or through other Government sources cannot be paid for under the ACAI funding to cover and gap or co-payments.
• State Based Organisations will manage and deliver the program in conjunction with Division of General Practice.
For further information, please see the full guidelines.
