More than 11M Vaccine Doses Delivered
The latest data from the National Immunisation Register shows that over 11M doses have been delivered with over 180, 000 per day being achieved.
The full bulletin to 24 July is here
Archive for month: July, 2021
Opportunities to Join Vaccine Program Still Open
It is our understanding that EOI for Practices to join the vaccine roll out program is still open. This particularly the case for regional practices where there is locally limited access to vaccination sites or where Practices cater to large numbers of culturally linguistically or ethnically diverse patient lists.
Read moreWorkSafe Victoria Expands List of Proclaimed Diseases
Lung cancer with silicosis and scleroderma with silicosis have now both been added to the proclaimed disease list.
Read moreAGPA at Q&A
Discussing the vaccine roll out.
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, AGPA Deputy Chair with Virginia Trioli, Q&A 15 July 2021
Best Practice expands options for Digital Prescription Tokens
Best Practice have announced that they have expanded their options for digital prescription tokens by adding MediSecure to their Prescription Exchange Service.
Previously, Best Practice could only enable practices to connect to eRx for digital tokens although of course they could use MediSecure for their barcode paper scripts. This delayed the roll out of QR codes and restricted Practices already using MediSecure to using paper scripts with bar codes.
Digital prescription tokens are indicative of the wave of digital transformation sweeping through General Practice. There have now been more than 10 million digital token prescriptions issued in Australia since launch late last year. By the end of the year estimates suggest more than 10% of all GP issued scripts will be delivered electronically.
The initial uptake of DPTs was linked to Telehealth but it now has a life of its own as many practices have discovered the convenience of not having to print scripts and physically hand them to patients. In most cases it’s also more convenient for the patient to receive the QR code on a smartphone via email or text.
Monty Python Joins Telehealth
New Telehealth numbers came into effect on 1 July 2021.
The MBS change fact sheet published includes the statement:
A patient must assign their right to a Medicare benefit to an eligible provider by signing a completed assignment of benefit form.
The FAQs then address the question:
Can a patient assign their MBS benefit without a physical signature if they come into the practice?
Read moreAGPA Succeeds with Pfizer for GP
This week 500 GP clinics commenced delivering Pfizer vaccine as well as the Astra Zeneca vaccine. By the end of July a further 1300 GP clinics will join the initial 500. Other GP clinics have also expressed an interest in delivering Pfizer vaccine, but have not been included in this first round.
Read morePCIG Update 7 July
Department of Health – Primary Health Care COVID-19 Response Teleconference 7 July 2021 – Meeting notes from Dr Maria Boulton
The Primary Care Implementation Group (PCIG) is an online meeting that includes most primary healthcare peak bodies. It is convened weekly by the Department of Health as part of the COVID-19 response.
Dr Maria Boulton attends on behalf of the AGPA.