Important launch of the new MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive commences from 1 August 2024. The incentive aims to support older people living in Residential Aged Care to receive planned, quality primary care services from a regular General Practice and General Practitioner (GP).
Developed in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive focuses on enhancing continuity of care, reducing avoidable hospitalisations, and facilitating regular visits, care planning, and health assessment services for aged care residents. The MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive payments will be quarterly, in addition to existing Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) rebates for services delivered.
What are the key benefits expected from the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive?
- Older people living in aged care will benefit from regular visits, care planning, and health assessment services, leading to improved continuity of care and reduced hospitalisations.
- Eligible providers will receive payments for services provided to older people living in aged care.
- Eligible practices will receive funding to manage quality care in aged care settings.
Practices and providers will be able to begin registering themselves and their patients for the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive and delivering eligible services from 1 July 2024, as the first incentive assessment period is from July to September 2024.
The MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive aims to support more regular, planned care to be delivered in aged care homes. Providers may benefit from rural loadings and rebates from longer and more complex MBS items included in the Incentive servicing requirements. Providers may also be eligible to receive the triple bulk billing incentive introduced in November 2023. The triple bulk billing incentive is available for each bulk-billed visit to an aged care resident.
What is happening to the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) General Practitioner (GP) Aged Care Access Incentive (ACAI)?
- The PIP GP ACAI will cease on 31 July 2024. The final PIP GP ACAI payment will be made in August 2024 for the reference period 1 May to 31 July 2024 as per existing payment and qualifying arrangements.
- GPs who will be eligible for the final PIP GP ACAI payment are encouraged to update their bank details to enable final payments to be made.
- GPs have three (3) payment quarters from the date PIP GP ACAI ceases, to finalise outstanding payments. After this time, any outstanding payments are forfeited and will not be paid.
Practices and providers may be eligible to receive payments under both the PIP GP ACAI and the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive for services delivered while both programs are active, if they meet the specific eligibility and servicing requirements of both programs.
More information on the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive
For more information on the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive, please visit the webpage and factsheet.