Aged Care

 

GP's Working in Residential Aged Care - A Guide

• Overview
• Resources
• Comprehensive Medical Assessments
• Links
• How WA General Practice Network Can Help
   

Aged Care Panels Initiative Defunded:
The Aged Care GP Panels Initiative was defunded as of 30th June 2008. This was a totally unexpected announcement and surprised the Aged Care Panels around Australia who were busily preparing for the next 3 years of activity. WA General Practice Network. along with the rest of the WA Network is extremely disappointed with the Government’s budget decision to cease funding the Aged Care Panels Initiative.
The work completed by the Initiative has benefited more than 14,500 residents in 282 aged care facilities across Western Australia. There were over 40 panels involving more than 160 GPS, a large number of allied health and aged care staff based in local communities across WA.
The Initiative significantly improved access to medical and allied health services. It also removed many barriers and helped to improve the working environment for GPs, allied heath service providers and aged care staff.
 

Aged Care Access Initiative:
The Panels are now replaced with a new initiative – the ‘Aged Care Access Initiative’ which has two distinct components:
• GP Incentive component; and,
• Allied Health services component.

The aim of the Aged Care Access Initiative is to improve access to primary care (GP and allied health services) for residents of aged care facilities.
 

GP Incentive Payment:
The GP incentive payment will operate through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) and is designed to encourage GPs to provide more services in 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.

QSLs for 2008-09 are as follows:
2008-09 MBS claims for services in residential aged care facilities  Incentive payment per GP 

 The incentive will be available to all GPs in practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) once the QSL of services provided in residential aged care facilities is reached for the financial year.

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items that count towards the QSLs are:

   
 
Service totals will be calculated during the financial year from 1 July – 30 June. The first payments to GPs reaching QSLs for 2008-09 will be made in February 2009.  The maximum payment per GP will be $2,500 per year.

Medicare Australia will write to GPs with details of the incentive.  
Further information can also be obtained from the PIP Enquiry Line on 1800 222 032 or from   the Aged Care Access Initiative Program Guidelines on the Department’s website at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/aged_care_access
 

Allied Health Services:
The allied health services component is a payment for clinical care provided by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in Residential Aged Care Facilities, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements. This component will be managed at a State level in WA by WA General Practice Network which may purchase allied health services directly or through contractual arrangements with Divisions of General Practice.
 

For more information and a copy of the guidelines for the new initiative go to: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/aged_care_access
 

As a requirement of the Aged Care Access Initiative, WA General Practice Network must undertake a needs assessment of Allied Health Clinical Service provision in Residential Aged Care across WA. This needs assessment process will be undertaken at a local level by the Divisions of General Practice and collated at a State level by WA General Practice Network. The time frame for conducting this needs assessment is very short and the Network is currently developing a plan to undertake this. This information will be used to inform allocation of funds across the state to best address areas of greatest need and gaps in services.
The funding for this initiative is limited and the challenge will be to target these funds in a way that best meets the needs of the residents in facilities around the state.
We plan to utilise existing networks and relationships developed under the Panels initiative. Ensuring the great work and networks established under the 4 years of the Panels Initiative are not lost is seen as essential and we look forward to working with you as this new Access Initiative is implemented.
 

Please feel free to contact WA General Practice Network on (08)9472 2922 or email admin@wagpnetwork.com.au  if you require further information.

 
WA General Practice Network is a proud member of Palliative Care WA (Inc), ACSWA, and ACAA WA.

Aged Care Documents
 

	Aged Care Access Initiative Guidelines August 2008
	RACGP - Medical care of older persons in residential aged care facilities

GP Working in Residential Aged Care - A Guide

	Guide Cover
	Contents
	Forward
	Section 1
	1.1 Welcome Pack
	1.2 GP Communication and Work Arrangements
	Section 2
	2.1 GP Patient Register
	2.2 contacting a GP Regarding an Acutely Unwell Resident - Checklist
	2.3 GP Contact Record Sheet
	2.4 Falls Notification
	2.5 After Hours and Acute Referral Ref Sheet
	2.6 Consent to Medical Care
	2.7 Resident Consent to Exchange of Health Information
	2.8 Consent for Vaccinations
	Section 3
	3.1 Transferring a Resident to Hospital
	3.2 Letter for Transfer to Hospital
	Section 4
	4.1 Checklist Audit of GP Requirements
	Section 5
	5.1 Built Environment - Design Guidelines
	5.2 Equipment List
	6.0 Resources

MBS Information

	Aged Care Budget Measure Fee Changes Summary (20 June 2007)
	Detailed Description of Aged Care MBS Changes (6 June 2007)
	Medicare services available to residents of aged care facilities – A guide (Nov 07) (Courtesy of GPV)

Allied Health MBS Documents

	Allied Health Eligibility Criteria
	Allied Health Medicare Fact Sheet
	Allied Health Referral Form
	Dental Services Fact Sheet
	Dental Services Referral Form
	Dental Services Medicare FAQs

Policy

	Labor Policy Document - New Directions for Australian Health
	Labor Policy 2007 - New Directions for Older Australians
	State Aged Care Plan Western Australia - 3 August 2007

Reports

	AIHW Residential Aged Care in Australia 2005-2006 Report
	Panels 12 Month Review Report

Comprehensive Medical Assessments

	CMA Flowchart
	CMA GP Checklist
	CMA MBS Item Description
	CMA Q&A
	CMA Sample Form

	Assessment Form
	Medical Standards Licensing & Clinical Management Guidelines

Guidelines for medication management in residential aged care facilities (3rd Ed.) - Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council

	Respecting Patient Choices Program (GP Coastal and Osborne Division)
	WA Statement of Choices
	Let me Decide - Health and Personal Care Directive (New South Wales Version)
	Advance Care Plan Contact Information Sheet
	Aged Care Plan Information Sheet - WA

Panels are being implemented in conjunction with the introduction of a Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item to enable GPs to undertake comprehensive medical assessments (CMAs) of new and existing residents (if required) of aged care homes. Both initiatives have been funded since 1 July 2004.

For these initiatives, aged care homes include both high care facilities (nursing homes) and low care facilities (hostels) subsidised by the Australian Government.

CMA fact sheet for GPs

Allied Health Peak Bodies

• Audiology Society of Australia (search for audiology services)
• Dieticians Association of Australia (search for a dietician)
• Occupational Therapy Australia WA (search for an OT)
• The Dental Hygienists Association of Australia
• Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (search for an exercise physiologist)
• Australian Podiatry Association (search for a podiatrist)
• Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association
• Australian Society of Social Workers (search for a social worker)
• Australian Association of Radiography
• Australian Osteopathic Association (search for an osteopath)
• Australian Physiotherapy Association(search for a Physio)
• The Australian Psychological Society (search for a psychologist)
• Chiropractors Association of Australia (search for a chiropractor)
• Nurses and Midwives Board of WA
• Orthoptic Association of Australia
• Speech Pathology Australia
• Private Speech Pathology Association of WA (search for a private speech pathologist)
• Australian Counselling Association (search for a counsellor)
• Australian Diabetes Educators Association (search for a diabetes educator)
• Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (search for a therapist)

Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR)

• Residential Medication Management review (RMMR - item 903) MBS schedule
• Residential Medication Management review (RMMR - item 903) MBS explanatory notes

Medicare

• MBS Online
• Medicare Australia Aged Care

WA Aged Care

• WA Aged Care Clinical Network
• PBS Reform in WA Public Hospitals Information
• WA Aged Care Advisory Council

Residential Aged Care

• Aged Care Australia Website
• Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency
• Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance
• List of certified RACFs
• Department of Health and Ageing Residential Care Manuals
• GP & Residential Aged Care Kit .

Palliative Care

• Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
• Program for Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)
• Rural Palliative Care resource Kit

Aged Care Research

• Ageing Research Online
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

ACFI (Aged Care Funding Instrument) Information and Documents

• ACFI
• ACSWA ACFI information session Powerpoint – Pam Bridges ACSA Qld
• The importance of ACFI (ACSA document)
• The ACFI and Medical Practitioners (Department of Health and Ageing)
• AMA Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI)

Online Resident Handbook from the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

• http://www.culturaldiversity.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=223

Older Australians at a Glance Nov 2007 (AIHW)

•  http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/age/oag04/oag04.pdf

The Online Resident Handbook enables residential aged care providers to easily compile and publish resident handbooks in multiple languages, and thereby supply residents and their families with essential information in their preferred language. Handbooks can be published in any of the following languages: English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.)

WA General Practice Network is funded to support the implementation of the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative and this is done in the following ways:

1. By working with the Western Australian Divisions of General Practice and residential aged care and allied stakeholder groups to promote the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative.
2. Provision of a coordination, advisory, development and support role for the Division Aged Care Project Officers.
3. To encourage information sharing and collaboration between Divisions of General Practice; and
4. To assist any Western Australian Divisions of General Practice facing challenges in the implementation and administration of the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative or in meeting program outcomes.

Some of the ways these objectives are achieved are through:

• Monthly teleconferences with all Division Aged Care Project Officers;
• Quarterly face to face Network meetings;
• Regular email dissemination of relevant data via list serv; and,
• Identification and facilitation of ongoing education to Aged Care Project Officers.

For more information please contact Ms Ashlee Osborne on (08) 9472 2922.

The Aged Care GP Panels Initiative is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing ( DoHA ).