Medicare health checks reveal hidden suffering

GPs around Australia are reporting very positive results from using the annual health assessments of people with intellectual disability that are now covered by Medicare.  From July 2007 to December 2008, 8,700 people with intellectual disability had assessments.

Hobart GP Nick Cooling reports often finding up to three previously untreated conditions when doing the assessment.  These include reflux, tooth decay, skin cancers, side effects from medication interactions, excess ear wax and various visual problems.  Dr Cooling suspects that the assessments will be of greatest use for detecting the less acute conditions which may have long term consequences if not treated early.

Dr Bob Davis is Director of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health in Melbourne.  He also works in a general practice.  Even with his expertise in intellectual disability, Dr Davis is finding that the new assessments are helping him to pick up important health problems.  For example, he recently found that a patient had an inflamed oesophagus – the assessment had revealed that the patient often wakes up quite distressed and then settles with a glass of milk.

An Adelaide woman who was thought to be “uncooperative” was found to have significant hearing loss.  She now has hearing aids and her first word after they were fitted was “Birdies!” – it was a long time since she had heard birds cheeping.

A Canberra woman was found to have a serious malignant cancer which is now being treated.

It is a promising start that 8,700 assessments occurred in the first 18 months.  But, that is only a small proportion of the population of people with intellectual disability.  Hopefully, the take-up on the assessments will steadily grow as word spreads about the practical benefits they are bringing.

GPs can claim on item 718 for an assessment in their surgery ($208.70) and item 719 ($232.15) if the assessment needs to be done at the patient’s home.  Someone who knows the patient well should attend the appointment to help provide the information the doctor needs.
 They should bring the person’s medical records and current medications.

In NSW, the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care requires supported accommodation services to ensure that each resident has an annual health assessment.  The Department provides the Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) tool to be used in the Medicare assessment.  The CHAP has a section to be completed by the person, family and support worker to give the doctor information about the person’s health situation.   The CHAP is also used by the disability departments in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

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Free e-Learning Training Package for Medicare Item 10997
It is with great pleasure that AGPN in conjunction with the Royal College of Nursing Australia and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education announce the release of the e-Learning Training Package for Medicare Item 10997.

Medicare Item 10997 applies to the provision of monitoring and support to people with a chronic disease care plan by a practice nurse or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker on behalf of a general practitioner.

The package consists of a pre-requisite foundation module and a series of six chronic-disease modules including arthritis, asthma, cancer, coronary heart disease, dementia, and diabetes with an additional module on kidney health to be added to the package in the near future. The content for each module has been developed by expert organisations to provide current best practice and up-to-date information about chronic disease management and utilising Medicare Item 10997 in the general practice setting.

The modules can be assessed free of charge until 31 August 2009 after which time a charge will be levied.

The modules can be accessed on the RCNA 3LP website and follow the instructions on the front page under ‘Getting started’. You do not need to be a member of RCNA to access the modules.

Please promote this e-Learning Training Package to GPs, Practice Nurses, Aboriginal Health Workers and other interested parties.

AGPN acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing in the development of this package and trust that the package will assist in supporting quality care for people with a chronic disease.

To view the promotional flyer please click here

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Whats new in Symptom control?

FREE: PEPA General Practitioner Education Evening Wednesday 22nd July in Brisbane
guest speaker Professor Janet Hardy, Director Mater Palliative Care Service speaking on "What's new in symptom control?"
Note, this event includes a free 2 course dinner (RACGP Activity Number 744516 3 Category 2 points).

Venue: Diana Plaza Hotel, Woolloongabba
Times: 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
Contact Kathy Laurent, PEPA Program Manager Qld on 3636 6216 or Kathryn_Laurent@health.qld.gov.au
Please complete the attached registration form and fax to 3636 7942 by Tuesday 14th  July.
 
Click here for more info.

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Article for Qld Divisions Immunisation Network

The National Due and Overdue Rules, used by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) to determine whether a child is considered up to date with immunisation, have changed from 1 January 2009. The change applies to the four year vaccination schedule for children born from 1January 2005 and is necessary to support changes to the Australian Government’s Maternity Immunisation Allowance paid to families.

From 1 January 2009 for all children born from 1 January 2005 onwards the overdue rule will change to state that these children are due for their four year old vaccinations at 4 years of age and overdue at 4 years and 1month of age.

This change will bring the four year schedule in line with the rules for all other age schedules which state that a child is overdue one month after their due date.

A copy of the National Due and Overdue Rules is available from Medicare Australia’s website at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au


Alternative version for practice newsletters

Children born from 1 January 2005 will become overdue for their 4 year old vaccinations when they turn 4 years and 1 month of age.

If you child is not fully immunised according to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, your Centrelink and Family Assistance Office payments may be affected.

To check your child’s immunisation status, speak to your GP or practice nurse.  The practice may also be able to access the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register to obtain an immunisation history for your child.  Alternatively you can request a history by logging onto the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/acir/index.jsp or by requesting a history at your local Medicare Australia office.
 
Contact the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809