Immunisation Update

Changes for Non Accredited GPII Practices.

Non accredited GPII practices would have recently received a letter from the Department of Health and Ageing and Medicare Australia.

This letter outlines the changes to the General Practice Immunisation Incentive scheme relevant to these practices following announcements made in the 2009-2010 budget. This budget item aims to improve quality and safety in vaccine management. From August 2010, practices will need to have appropriate processes in place that maintain the potency of vaccines.

The specific requirements that practices will need to meet are outlined in The Australian Immunisation Handbook, Chapter 1.3.2 of the 9th edition. Practices should use the information in the Handbook as a self-assessment tool to determine whether they meet the vaccine management guidelines. General practices will also be required to have current public liability insurance and all GPs working from the practice will be required to have professional indemnity cover.

Practices currently participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) will be automatically considered to meet the entry requirements relating to vaccine management, public liability insurance and professional indemnity cover.

A further letter will be sent by Medicare Australia in February 2010 with an application form to be returned to Medicare Australia confirming that they meet the new GPII requirements.

A third mail out will occur at the end of March 2010. This mail out will be to practices that have not responded to the February 2010 mail out.

Practices that have not returned the GPII interim application form by 30 April 2010 will not be eligible to receive an outcomes payment in August 2010.

Information from the AGPN – The Finer Point No 145 November 2009 Website: http://www.agpn.com.au/programs/immunisation/newsletters/the-finer-point

For more information please contact Bronwyn Myles at the Division on 8252 9444.

Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice

1st Floor, 13 Elizabeth Way |  PO Box 421  Elizabeth  SA  5112

T 08 8252 9444 |  F 08 8252 9433 |  www.andgp.org.au |  ABN  12 061 979 048

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