News
October 2012
Further Changes to Telehealth arrangements announced by the Treasurer
Change to Telehealth geographical eligibility
On 1 January 2013 the geographical edibility criteria will be defined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) classification. To be eligible for Telehealth services patients will need to be outside of RA1 – Major Cities. Consultant physicians and paediatricians can still be anywhere in Australia when they provide a video consultation.
Telehealth Eligible Service Areas
Note: These changes do not affect those exempt from geographical requirements, being Aged Care Facilities or patients of eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Introduction of short Telehealth consultation items
On 1 January 2013 new MBS items will be available for video consultations of ten minutes or less. There is no change for the initial video consultation, which are more than ten minutes long.
Fact Sheet - Telehealth 1 January 2013
Changes to Telehealth arrangements announced in the 2012-13 Federal Budget
Changes announced in the Budget include:
- the introduction of a 15km minimum distance for MBS telehealth items;
- restructuring up-front financial incentives to better encourage ongoing service provision;
- formally ceasing financial incentives after 30 June 2014; and
- ceasing the training and support initiative after the current funding round.
The restructured incentive announced in the Budget applies from 1 July 2012, and the total amount of incentive payment reduces to $4,800 in 2012/13.
A brief fact sheet, provided by the Department of Health and Ageing, outlines these changes.
Fact Sheet - Budget 2012-13 Telehealth
This is also available on-line at www.mbsonline.gov.au/telehealth.