The Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) announced in the 2008-09 Federal budget, aims to improve access to primary care for residents of Aged Care Facilities through two distinct components. The first of these involves access to GPs, while the second provides for additional Allied Health Services.

The Aged Care Access Incentive – GP Component

The GP component recognises some of the difficulties faced by GPs in providing care in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). An incentive payment through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) has been introduced to encourage GPs to provide more services in RACFs.

• Tier one provides a payment of $1,000 when the first qualifying service level (QSL1) of 60 services is claimed in 2008-09.
• Tier two provides a payment of $1,500 when the second qualifying service level (QSL2) of 140 services is claimed in 2008-09.
• The maximum payment any one GP can receive in one financial year is $2,500.

MBS items that count towards QSLs include attendances in RACFs, Comprehensive Medical Assessments, contributions to Care Plans, Case Conferences, and Residential Medication Management Reviews.

Your Practice Support Officer can help you with recalls and reminders to help you achieve these PIP goals.

The Aged Care Access Initiative – Allied Health Component

The allied health component involves funding for clinical care provided by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in RACFs, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements. GP Network Northside (GPNN) will be administering this component of the ACAI.

GPNN will work with RACFs and GPs to identify funding gaps in each facility. ACAI funding can then be claimed for the provision of these services.

For further information regarding the ACAI Allied Health Component please contact the Project Officer on 9477 8700 or email using the Contact Us form.

Further information on this initiative is available at:

www.health.gov.au find ACAI under Programs and Campaigns
www.agpn.com.au find ACAI under Programs

Please contact your Practice Support Officer on 9477 8700 to obtain information on:

• Comprehensive Medical Assessments
• Palliative Care
• Advance Care Directives
• The ACFI Funding Model
• Other Aged Care issues