APodA advocacy update

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COVID has shifted the landscape somewhat dramatically for aged care, prompting the Federal Government to reflect on the provision of allied health care services. Despite these good intentions, the latest round of funding has been disappointing for the podiatry profession.

“The November 2020 funding announcement only allows for the provision of additional allied health sessions for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and exercise physiologists. ”

Federal Government disappoints in aged care funding decision

Back in November 2020, the Federal Government announced an additional $132.2 million in funds towards the aged care COVID response. You can read more about this here.

This seemingly positive move is ultimately disappointing for the podiatry profession, given the funds will not be directed in any way towards podiatric services. This is despite ‘Recommendation 3’ of the Royal Commission in to Aged Care Quality and Safety, which clearly states:

“The Australian Government should urgently create Medicare Benefits Schedule items to increase the provision of allied health services, including mental health services, to people in aged care during the pandemic.”

Whereas the November 2020 funding announcement only allows for the provision of additional allied health sessions for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and exercise physiologists.

We have written to both the Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, to express these concerns.

"The announcement of temporary MBS item numbers directly affects podiatrists. Specifically, two new MBS item numbers have been issued for podiatrists who treat patients on a chronic disease management plan (CDM) in a residential aged care facility."

Good news for MBS item numbers

In other (more positive!) news there has been a change in Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers. From 10 December 2020 to 30 June 2022 temporary MBS item numbers have been made available to improve access to multidisciplinary care for residents of aged care facilities.

The announcement of temporary MBS item numbers directly affects podiatrists. Specifically, two new MBS item numbers have been issued for podiatrists who treat patients on a chronic disease management plan (CDM) in a residential aged care facility. These are:

Item number 93509 for a new initial / long attendance item, which replaces item number 10962. These can only be claimed once per patient per calendar year and appointments must be at least 30 minutes in duration and receive a higher rebate than standard ‘Chronic Disease Management’ item numbers. This item number is counted as part of the standard five visits allocated under a GP Management Plan. You can read the full details here. For any subsequent consultations with that patient you must now use item number 93532. Full details on this latter point are here.

A new flag fall item number 90004 applies to a provider’s first attendance at a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) to provide an MBS service, per occasion. The flag fall item is to be claimed per RACF attendance, rather than per patient attendance. The benefit payable for this item number is $41.25. You can read the full details here.

We will continue to advocate independently and through Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) for increased access to MBS item numbers for podiatry.

Questions?

If you have any questions about either of these updates please contact our Advocacy Manager, Cindy Laird: cindy.laird@podiatry.org.au

"In 2021 we will review the APodA billing guide and all item codes in relation to podiatry."

You told us and we’re listening!

The results are in from the 2020 National Member Survey.

Here is a summary of some advocacy insights that surfaced.

Let’s start with the areas identified for improvement since we need to acknowledge this upfront if we are to be transparent and progress from there.

Specifically, the NDIS and our degree of advocacy-based communication left some members feeling that further improvements could be made.

NDIS

Some members surveyed did not believe we were advocating as well as we could in the area of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). To address these concerns, we have set up an NDIS Working Group to develop a set of guidelines to help podiatrists navigate and work within the NDIS and increase engagement.

Advocacy communication

Some members felt we did not communicate our advocacy activities to the wider podiatry profession. In response, this year we will focus on showing all of the work we do to both members and non-members via a range of online, email and print platforms.

Cause to celebrate

Whereas other areas came across more positively, with validating member feedback along the following lines.

of members surveyed said that continuous advocacy by the APodA is very important. A large part of what we do at the APodA is advocate for podiatrists in all areas of government, across private health funds, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and other external stakeholders.

of those surveyed also indicated that industry updates are very important. Being a member of the APodA means industry updates are communicated directly to you in real time in language that can be easily understood. We work to take the jargon out of health department updates and tell you exactly what you need to know and how it affects podiatrists. This requirement became all the more essential as COVID rapidly gained momentum, and this situation still continues to unfold.

Advocacy focus for 2021

Looking forward, members identified three key advocacy areas for 2021. They are:

The role of podiatrists in the management of chronic disease

We continue our work in advocating for the profession through direct representation to the Department of Health. The APodA, along with other allied health associations through Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), have a seat at the table for the development of the Government’s ‘Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan’ where we can ensure allied health interests are represented.

Increased access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)

We are pleased to announce our first position statements will be on ‘Increased access for allied health through the MBS’ and ‘Access to vascular assessments under the MBS’. And the ‘prescribing of orthotics’ will be the next priority for developing a position statement.

Reviewing items codes in relation to primary health care funds

In 2021 we will review the APodA billing guide and all item codes in relation to podiatry. Preliminary data has been collected from the profession, and our meetings with private health insurers through Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) are taking place throughout this first quarter of the year and beyond.

More information?

There is a stack of advocacy-related information on the APodA website here.