Issue 215 - 6 March 2025
Welcome to Practice Connect, a fortnightly update for practice managers, principals, nurses and administration staff on relevant issues, upcoming events and education.
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Some General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) registered practices and their GPs may not have received a payment that they expected because the incorrect Medicare Provider Number (MPN) was used when claiming GPACI-eligible services. The Organisation Register recognises Organisation Sites (that is, practice locations), not the overall Organisation entity. GPs who practice out of more than one location (site) have a different MPN for each location. Therefore, GPs (or practice staff on their behalf) must ensure that the MPN used for claiming services for each individual patient is the MPN for the same Organisation Site in which:
For further information, visit the Services Australia MyMedicare resources webpage or call the Practice Assist help desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Following the recent announcement by the Australian Government on the proposed expansion of bulk billing eligibility and introduction of a new bulk billing practice incentive program; the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has provided the following update for general practices:
More information is available in the DoHAC fact sheet and the DoHAC More Bulk Billing Information and Case Study resource. WA Primary Health Alliance will provide further information on this proposed election commitment as soon as it becomes available. For more information and guidance with MyMedicare, contact Practice Assist on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
General Practices sharing data with WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) for PIP QI, can now access their practice data reports through the Primary Care Reporting Portal (PCRP). The Primary Care Reporting Portal (PCRP) is designed to be intuitive and easy to use and aims to replace the requirement on receiving manual PDF reports from WAPHA. The PCRP offers on demand access to your practices data, and as an added benefit you will also be able to view these reports in an enhanced visual format through dashboard Power BI reporting.
If you are a general practice that shares data with WAPHA via Primary Sense and you have not received an email inviting your practices nominated administrator to access the PCRP, please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478) or 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au.
The Department of Health and Aged Care is allowing Practices to backdate their MyMedicare registered patients’ GPACI registration so that the care provided since 1 July 2024 can be accurately captured in the GPACI eligibility assessment.
During each quarterly assessment, the previous three quarters are also reassessed. After practices have backdated their patients’ GPACI registration, if the next quarterly reassessment process determines they met all the eligibility criteria, practices and providers will be assessed as having an underpayment and will get a GPACI payment for the relevant assessment period/s.
WA Primary Health Alliance have partnered with Provider Connect AustraliaTM (PCATM) to help transform data accuracy and increase digital health interoperability across the Australian healthcare ecosystem. Save time, reduce your administrative workload and securely update your business partner network of any changes to your practice or practitioners by registering with PCA™. Read our registration guide for more information on how to register, or watch the 'Reducing red-tape for healthcare organisations with Provider Connect Australia' video here.
We know from research and feedback that multicultural communities can face significant barriers to accessing health care. With more than a third Western Australians born overseas, it is vital we support patients from these communities to overcome language, discrimination, stigma, lack of trust and other barriers that could limit their access to high quality care. The WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) Multicultural Competency and Capability Framework provides a set of key principles for developing cultural competency within WAPHA, and our commissioned service providers and primary care. The accompanying toolkit has been developed in close consultation with our stakeholders and provides links to key organisations and resources to support culturally safe health service delivery, community support services and translated health information for patients from multicultural communities. This includes key information and resources for general practice teams and patients on topics including:
This Framework, forms part of the WA Primary Health Alliance suite of cultural competency frameworks, including the Aboriginal Cultural Competency and Capability Framework 2023-2025 and the LGBTIQA+ Equity and Inclusion Framework 2023-2025.
With influenza notifications continuing to increase above seasonal thresholds, now is a good time to remind staff and patients about the simple but important measures they can take to protect themselves from respiratory infection, including:
Download the Protect yourself from viruses and How to wash your hands posters for your practice and direct your patients to Healthy WA for more information. Specific advice to assist in the prevention and control of communicable diseases is also available at the WA Department of Health website.
A new AIR Update that describes how to report pregnancy status at the time of vaccination to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) has been added to the NCIRS website. This is the latest in a series of short practical guides to help immunisation providers navigate the AIR, which records vaccinations given to people in Australia across the lifespan. AIR data has a variety of important uses – including the calculation of population-level vaccination coverage estimates. As noted in our last edition of Practice Connect, it will be mandatory for immunisation providers to report pregnancy status at the time of vaccination to the AIR from 1 March 2025. Access the new AIR Tip here.
The interim Australian Centre for Disease Control has publicly noted the ‘unusually high’ levels of pertussis (whooping cough) currently circulating in Australia. The latest National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System figures show around 6,600 cases have been reported domestically since the new year – more than double than at the same point of last year. Last year ultimately saw the highest number of pertussis cases ever recorded in Australia. The interim Australian CDC also stresses vaccination is the best protection against pertussis – a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause serious disease and death, particularly in young infants. Vaccination for eligible people is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). As noted in NCIRS’ new vaccine recommendations for pregnant women resource, pregnant women are recommended to receive pertussis-containing vaccine (which comes as combination diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis formulation) at 20–32 weeks gestation, to protect their babies from birth. Read the full article here.
The US recorded its first measles-related death in a decade this week, as an outbreak that is now affecting eight American states continued to worsen. The victim, from Texas, was an unvaccinated child. Meanwhile, public health authorities in Australia have issued alerts after multiple confirmed measles cases have been detected, with 2 cases believed to be locally acquired (no overseas travel from either person). Officials are advising healthcare providers to be alert to individuals presenting with fever and rash and to urge patients to ensure they and their loved ones are protected through vaccination. Measles vaccination coverage rates in Australia, while comparatively high, have declined to below the 95% national target since the COVID-19 pandemic. After receipt of 2 doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, around 99% of people are immune to measles. In Australia, measles vaccine is provided free for children aged 12 months and 18 months under the National Immunisation Program; catch-up vaccines are also available for those who have missed their scheduled doses. Access the Measles Handbook chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook here. Access to the WA Immunisation Schedule.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) travel vaccination FAQs resource for healthcare providers and the general public has been updated. Among other additions, the revised resource now includes specific information on travel vaccination for people who are immunocompromised. It includes clear guidance on vaccination for children who are travelling internationally; which vaccines are compulsory for people travelling from Australia to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to participate in pilgrimages; and what should be done if a child has missed some of their scheduled vaccinations while overseas. To see the FAQ’s, click here.
With the latest facts about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and vaccination, this webinar covers everything you need to know about the disease and available vaccines. Presented by Angela Newbound for the Immunisation Coalition. Register here.
The Quality Improvement Coach team from WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) have joined forces with the Cancer Council WA Education team to collaborate on developing quality improvement activities available to GPs in WA.
These activities are both RACGP and ACRRM accredited for 5 Measuring Outcomes (MO) hours each under the requirements for Continuing Professional Development.
The educational audits will equip GPs with applicable background information and step by step guides on utilising Primary Sense reports to undertake PDSA cycles. These activities are a simple way of improving capture and documentation of risk factors that can be associated with cancer, enabling further screening as appropriate.
For these and other Cancer Council QI activities GPs can register their interest here.
WAPHA’s team of Quality Improvement Coaches can support GPs to run reports and interrogate data using various software and tools, and provide guidance on completing PDSA cycles. To connect with your local WAPHA QI Coach please reach out via QI@wapha.org.au
The 2024–25 Own It national cervical screening campaign is now in full swing. To complement the campaign, the NCSR have created an Own It stakeholder campaign toolkit and secondary toolkits for Australia’s most under-screened groups. The toolkits have been published here. Inside each toolkit you will find:
If you have any questions or suggestions on other things we could add to the toolkits, please email CancerScreeningCommunications@health.gov.au
Don’t forget to register here for the upcoming RACGP webinar on the changes to the National Cervical Screening Program Guidelines. Updated healthcare provider education and training modules are also available on the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) website. The National Cervical Screening Program Guidelines for the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding have been updated to incorporate and support best clinical practice. The new Guidelines are now available here. A reminder that the new Guidelines will not go live in the NCSR until April. Discretion and best clinical judgement are to be used regarding the use and ‘compliance’ with the Guidelines during this time.
New AusVaxSafety data have shown most participants (72 per cent) experienced no side effects in the first three days following receipt of the adult formulation (aged 12 years and older) Pfizer JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine. Among those who did report side effects, the most common were local reactions (such as pain, itching, redness and swelling at the injection site), fatigue, muscle or joint pain and headache. These reactions were generally mild and short-lived, with most resolving within a day. Impact on daily activities was also minimal, with only 4 per cent of recipients reporting missing work, study or routine duties in the week following vaccination. Access the report here.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is seeking feedback on potential changes to the accreditation cycle and assessment of general practices. Consultation is now open for the general practice sector to share their views on two proposed options:
Alternate ideas and suggestions on how the accreditation experience and assessment process for general practices could be improved are also welcomed. Share your feedback by 4 April 2025, visit safetyandquality.gov.au/NGPA-consultation.
Join us for an insightful and comprehensive webinar designed to equip general practice staff with the essential tools and strategies for effective chronic disease management. This webinar will feature speakers from WAPHA’s Quality Improvement (QI) team, interactive discussions and practical case studies to help you apply the key learnings in your practice. Webinar topics:
To find out more view the flyer here and register today!
Join RACGP WA for an overview of the Firearms Act and the reforms that are taking place, including the practical considerations and the role of GPs in terms of the mandatory Firearms Health Assessment (FAHA) process. We will cover:
Presented by Dr Mariam Bahemia and Dr Richard Taylor. Facilitated by RACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman. As always, there will be a dedicated Q&A session, and the opportunity to submit your questions ahead of time. Register here
Presented by WA Primary Health Alliance and facilitated by a GP clinical editor, these sessions will demonstrate how to maximise integration of the Clinician Assist website into your clinical practice. Clinician Assist WA is a secure website designed to support GPs offering valuable, localised information to assess, manage, and refer patients in Western Australia. Find out more and register
Presented by WA Primary Health Alliance Multiple Dates & Times
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is providing GPs in WA with paid online Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) training, designed to help practitioners and clinicians recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support. GPs and GP registrars who attend the two workshops will be remunerated $300 and CPD hours are available. For the latest IAR-DST training dates and registration links, visit the WAPHA IAR-DST webpage.
Developed by the Rural Clinical School of WA GPs in collaboration with Psychiatrist, Dr Mat Coleman, this training program is made up of two, CPD accredited modalities:
GPs can choose to do either Part 1 or Part 2 or both. It is recommended GPs complete the online modules prior to attending a case study discussion but it is not mandatory. View the list of case study discussions currently scheduled throughout the Perth metropolitan area in February – March 2025 or register for online and case study discussions here. Location and dates for each workshop will be displayed when you choose your preference within the registration form. Online modules can be completed at any time.
Mark your calendars for the WA Rural Health Conference, Pan Pacific Perth on Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 March 2025. Early bird registrations are now open! This year’s theme, “Strengthening rural WA: One connection at a time,” brings together a diverse range of rural health professionals including:
The preliminary program is now available, which includes sessions that focus on collaboration, connection, and community impact. For full details and to take advantage of early bird rates, please visit www.waruralhealthconference.com.au For any inquiries, please contact the Events Team at warhc@ruralhealthwest.com.au or call 08 6389 4500.
Acknowledgement WA Primary Health Alliance acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners and Elders of this country and recognises the significant importance of their cultural heritage, values and beliefs and how these contribute to the positive health and wellbeing of the whole community.