A resource to support partnerships between Residential Aged Care Homes and Primary Care

MyMedicare Program Guidelines published on 6 January 2025 contain detailed information and guidance for practices, general practitioners and patients who wish to voluntarily register with the MyMedicare Program. We encourage general practices to familiarise themselves with these guidelines.

As the new year begins, many existing patients with chronic disease management plans will be due for a renewal, along with their team care arrangements. Patients and practices often align these plans with the start of the calendar year, as allied health items available through team care (items 10950–10970 and 81100–81125) renew at this time.

It’s time to prepare your general practice for changes to Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) MBS items. Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) MBS item changes recommended by the MBS Review Taskforce are the first major change to chronic disease management in 20 years, and are scheduled to come into effect 1 July 2025. 

MyMedicare registrations continue to increase, particularly general practice-led registrations. As of 6 November 2024, 2,126,435 patients, 6,329 general practices and 47,000 provider numbers are registered with MyMedicare. MyMedicare voluntary patient registration is a foundation for person-centred primary care.

Services Australia has advised there will be a system release for the Organisation Register on 9 December 2024.

On 25 September the Department of Health and Aged Care announced the commencement date for Chronic Conditions Management MBS item changes have been deferred to 1 July 2025.

New resources have been published on the Services Australia page to support providers and practices to forecast payments and eligibility for the General Practice In Aged Care Incentive.

To inform patients and their carers about MyMedicare the resources below can help explain the benefits and what it means for them.

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have a long-standing history of supporting local general practices. Across Australia, practices have expressed the need for a user guide on Medicare Benefits for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GP ACI).

The Department of Health and Aged Care has announced major changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for chronic disease management from 1 November 2024. 

Last week on Monday 1 July 2024 the new General Practice in Aged Care Incentive commenced, providing incentive payments to general practices and general practitioners for delivering regular visits and care planning to permanent residents living in residential aged care. This may result in some changes in the way that general practitioners deliver services to residents living in your residential aged care home.

If your practice is planning to participate in the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive, you may be considering the practicalities of how to sign up your patients living in an aged care home for MyMedicare.

Some general practitioners that deliver care to residential aged care homes operate as sole providers and mobile practices and until recently were not eligible for accreditation under the RACGP accreditation standards.

Last week on Monday 1 July the new General Practice in Aged Care Incentive commenced, providing incentive payments to practices and general practitioners for delivering regular visits and care planning to older people living in residential aged care.