Primary Care - Practice Management
X

Practice Management

Palliative care practice in primary care is supported through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. There are no specific palliative care MBS items. Instead other MBS items are used to reimburse the delivery of palliative care.

Medicare item numbers are subject to change. Please also refer to MBS Online for any updates.

From Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)

The Practice Incentives Program (PIP) general practitioner Aged Care Access Incentive (ACAI) aims to encourage general practitioners to provide increased and continuing services in residential aged care facilities.

 

To be eligible for the PIP general practitioner Aged Care Access Incentive (ACAI), general practitioners must:

  • Work from a PIP practice;
  • Provide eligible Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services to residents in residential aged care facilities
  • Reach the Quantifying Service Level (QSL) by providing the required number of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services in residential aged care facilities in a financial year
  • Use a Medicare provider number linked to a PIP practice when claiming Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services in residential aged care facilities

To receive the:

  • Tier 1a payment of $2,000, GPs must provide at least 60 eligible MBS services in RACFs in a financial year.
  • Tier 1b payment of an additional $2,500, GPs must provide at least 100 eligible MBS services in RACFs in a financial year.
  • Tier 2a payment of an additional $2,500, GPs must provide at least 140 eligible MBS services in RACFs in a financial year.
  • Tier 2b payment of an additional $3,000, GPs must provide at least 180 eligible MBS services in RACFs in a financial year.

Eligible GPs can get 4 payments totalling $10,000 for the financial year, in addition to the consultation fee.

Eligible Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Items

Eligible MBS services are those provided to residents in Commonwealth-funded residential aged care facilities and Multipurpose Services.

Multipurpose Services are integrated health and aged care services that provide flexible and sustainable service options for small rural and remote communities.

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services that count towards the Quantifying Service Level include:

  • attendances in residential aged care facilities
  • contributions to care plans, and
  • residential medication management reviews

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items that count towards the Quantifying Service Levels are:

  • Consultation at a residential aged care facility 20, 35, 43, 51, 92, 93, 95, 96, 188, 202, 212, 772, 789, 5010, 5028, 5049, 5067, 5260, 5263, 5265, 5267,
  • Multidisciplinary care plan—residential aged care facility 232, 731,
  • residential medication management review (RMMR)—residential aged care facility 249, 903
  • Professional attendance at consulting rooms 741,
  • Professional attendance other location 763.
Medicare item numbers are subject to change. Please also refer to MBS Online for any updates.

eLearning for Practice Managers
The Advance Project

Advance is an eLearning module for practice managers that is provides an introduction to advance care planning and palliative and supportive care, introduction of the Advance Project® and resources and support to integrate the Advance Project® resources into your general practice.

Page updated 11 December 2023