THE Federal Government has confirmed changes to Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) rebates for telehealth consultations, which will be restricted to General Practices with an existing relationship with the patient from next week.
The move is a response to a chorus of complaints from doctors groups about "corporate pop-ups" such as those operated by pharmacy groups including Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy.
The new telehealth MBS items introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic had led to a range of innovations, including Chemist Warehouse launching a partnership with Instant Consult promising a bulk-billed prescription within 15 minutes, between 6am and midnight 365 days a year.
Likewise Priceline's "Scripts Now" platform facilitates bulk-billing of consultations via in-store Health Stations, which can be used by customers to request scripts on the spot for review by a doctor.
Approved scripts are then emailed to the Priceline Pharmacy for immediate dispensing.
However those services look to be forced to close under the new restrictions, which were announced on Fri by the Health Department.
"In a major boost for primary health care, the Australian Government is further strengthening telehealth arrangements as recommended by the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and other medical experts," the announcement stated.
"Under stage seven of telehealth reforms announced today, Medicare-subsidised telehealth services, introduced as a key part of the COVID-19 response, will now promote patients receiving continuous care from a patients' regular GP or medical practice.
"From July 20, telehealth GP providers will be required to have an existing and continuous relationship with a patient in order to provide telehealth services...this will ensure patients continue to receive quality, ongoing care from a GP who knows their medical history and needs," the Department said.
A relationship is defined as the patient having seen the same practitioner for a face-to-face service in the last 12 months, or having seen a doctor at the same practice for a face-to-face service during the same period.
The new requirement does not apply to those living under new restrictions in Vic, and also exempts people under the age of 12 months or people who are experiencing homelessness, who will be able to have access to any provider.
"Requiring COVID-19 video and telephone services [to be] linked to a patient's usual GP or practice will support longitudinal, person-centred primary health care, associated with better health outcomes," the Government said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said telehealth had been enthusiastically embraced by doctors and patients alike.
"I hope and intend for telehealth to be a positive legacy of this crisis and am already engaged with the medical community in planning a long term future for telehealth," the Minister concluded.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Jul 20
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