Immunisation Update
Bianca Slater, Immunisation 19 December 07
We have information re: all funded HPV lodgments being paid $6, a consent reminder, adverse reactions to HPV vaccine, correct recording of Infanrix-hexa IPV, RotaTeq cut-off dates, 9th Edition Handbook and ACIR calculations.
All funded HPV lodgments paid $6!
When the Bill to establish the HPV register was finally passed in the Federal Parliament, it included payment provisions for GPs lodging data. Originally the payment was to be for data for girls aged 12-18 years of age. This has been extended to cover the lodging of data for all girls and women between the ages of 12-26 who receive the HPV vaccine Gardasil.
These provisions in the Bill were expanded during the drafting of the legislation enabling the establishment of the register. The Bill includes provision for payment to GPs for lodging all notifications of HPV vaccinations to the register. The Bill specifically states: "payment of general practitioners for entering information in the Register." An eligible person is defined in the Bill as "a person who is eligible to receive vaccination under the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program."
So, for the funded HPV vaccine, each encounter that is lodged with the HPV register (when it is operational) will receive a $6 payment.
The HPV register is still being developed so we strongly encourage GPs and Practice Nurses to continue to record HPV vaccinations, either in their software, or in the templates provided.
Consent reminder
It is important to remember to get consent from the patient before giving the HPV vaccine and also before recording the encounter to be sent to the HPV Register.
Adverse reactions to HPV Vaccine
In the wake of recent media reports relating to side effects of the Gardasil vaccine, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued an advisory. Patients may approach you with concerns about side effects associated with the administration of vaccines. However, the diseases the vaccines prevent are more harmful than the effects that might sometimes follow vaccination. Due to media coverage, patients may present with concerns and the advice from the TGA is useful in addressing these.
Correct recording of Infanrix-hexa IPV
Some notifications of child vaccinations of Infanrix-hexa IPV are not being correctly recorded. In these cases, notifications have only been for 'Infanrix-hexa' (not including IPV in name) thus causing the child to be recorded as overdue and GPII payments not being made. Please double-check when recording vaccinations with Infanrix-hexa IPV that IPV is included in the notification.
RotaTeq cut-off dates
The most recent version of RotaTeq cut-off dates can be located at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation. This is a great website for obtaining the most up-to-date information re immunisation.
9th Edition Handbook
The 9th edition of the immunisation handbook is still on its way. There were delays due to the election and caretaker mode. At this stage we are expecting the Handbook's release early in the new year.
ACIR calculations - November 2007
GPII Practice Coverage Calculation - November 2007
The GPII assessment is based on children who visited the practice at least twice, for any Medicare consultation, between 1st July 2006 and 31st June 2007.
GPII 20A Practice Reports & Recalculation
The 20A report lists the children who were not fully immunised in the November 2007 Calculation. Data Cleaning with the 20A is the key to achieving a better result in the November 2007 Recalculation (due to run in early February 2008). The Recalculation re-assesses the immunisation status of those children identified on the GPII 20A report. The Recalculation is the last opportunity for practices to achieve 90% and the associated Outcomes Payments for this quarter. (Outcomes Payments are $3.50 x WPE for practices >90%).
Practices should have received their 20A Practice Report in the post in mid December. Practices who do not receive their copy by the end of December should make enquiries with the GPII office, on 1800 246 101. The 20A report is also available electronically on the ACIR secure site. Providers need to log in using their secure access and order the 20A from the 'Reports' menu. Reports are produced within 48 hours.
New Registrars need to have a signed a 46E Agreement submitted with Medicare Australia, otherwise their practice's 20A report will be withheld.
Practices should finalise work on their 20A report, and submit any corrections/ updates to ACIR by late January 2008. (The Recalculation is due approx 1 February 2008).
To ensure accurate reporting to ACIR and all Service Incentives Payments are received, practices should routinely check their monthly ACIR Statement of Payment, to address rejected claims and report any corrections back to ACIR.
Merry Christmas!!
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy 2008!!
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2007/12/immunisation
Comment on this article
Your comments are published on this page. While we encourage your candour and honesty, BDDGP reserves the right to remove advertising or offensive comments.