• Overview
• Stakeholders
• Services by Divisions
• Aged Care Updates
• Resources
• Further Information

Overview

In the 2008-09 Federal Budget, the Commonwealth Government announced the restructure of the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative. Commencing 1 July 2008, funding for the Aged Care GP Panels initiative was redirected to support primary care service provision in residential aged care facilities through the Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI).

The Commonwealth Government has confirmed that it will continue to provide funding for the ACAI for 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The aim of the ACAI is to improve access to primary care (GP and Allied Health services) for Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) through:

• GP Incentive Component: An incentive payment through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) to encourage GPs to provide more services in RACFs which will be administered by Medicare;

• Allied Health Services Incentive Component: A payment 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. This component is managed by SBOs in collaboration with divisions of general practice.

Stakeholders

The key participants in the Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) include:

• Allied health service providers
• Australian General Practice Network (AGPN)
• Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA)
• Divisions of general practice
• GPs
• Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs)
• State Based Organisations (SBOs)

Services by Divisions

• Please click here for a summary of ACAI services by divisions in 08-09.

Resources

• Aged and Community Services Australia - Residential Care News and Updates
• Aged Care Access Initiative Guidelines
• Aged Care Queensland
• Alzheimer’s Australia
• Australian General Practice Network
  • Aged Care GP Panels
  • Aged Care Resource Directory
• Council on the Ageing
• Medicare
  • Aged Care Item Number MBS Flowchart
  • Comprehensive Medical Assessment (Item 712)
    
  • Medicare Aged Care Initiatives - Divisions of General Practice Information Sheet
  • Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) (Item 903)
  • Strengthening Medicare Aged Care Initiative
• Palliative Care Australia - Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - Silver Book 3rd Edition

Further Information

Please contact:
Phillipa Grant
Program Coordinator
pgrant@gpqld.org.au