Through our work with members, we aim to strengthen the contribution of nursing and midwifery to improving Australia’s health and aged care systems, and the health of our national and global communities. [...] A Monash Research and Education Network Brief recently concluded that the Older Persons Health Assessment may improve survival and quality of life, but the outcomes may equally be attributed to greater utilisation and quality of health services.1 The ANMF supports the retention of health assessments where they demonstrate that they facilitate access to appropriate and affordable health services an. [...] Expanding the type and number of health practitioners who are funded to initiate and conduct health assessments will increase access to preventative care and early intervention, if the prescribed care and services are affordable and accessible. [...] Changing the criteria to allow nurses, midwives and other suitably qualified health practitioners to initiate and conduct targeted MBS funded, health assessments would enable them to work to their scope of practice and improve access to this type of health care, especially by those in vulnerable population groups. [...] Recognising the equivalency of cultural knowledge and the expanded clinical capabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives, as compared to Health Workers and Practitioners, it is imperative to afford them the opportunity to bill for MBS items in provision of care for their communities.
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Table of Contents
- Submission by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation 1
- Australian Government 1
- Department of Health and 1
- Aged Care MBS Health 1
- Assessment Items Review 1
- Annie Butler 2
- Federal Secretary 2
- Lori-Anne Sharp 2
- Federal Assistant Secretary 2
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation 2
- Level 1 365 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000 2
- E anmffederalanmf.org.au 2
- W www.anmf.org.au 2
- Introduction 3
- Questions 4
- Q1. What should be the key focus of MBS subsidised health assessment services in primary 4
- Preventative care 4
- Early intervention 4
- Other please provide comments 4
- Q2. From a clinical perspective how well do MBS health assessment items for 5
- Level A-E attendances PoorlySomewhatFullyUnknown. 5
- Q3. From a clinical perspective how well do MBS health assessment items for targeted 6
- Q4. To what extent do the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments child 7
- A-E attendances PoorlySomewhatFullyUnknown. 7
- Q5. To what extent do the current patient eligibility requirements for MBS health 7
- PoorlySomewhatFullyUnknown. 7
- Q6. What are the key limiters to delivering MBS health assessment items select all that 9
- Preventative care already delivered within general attendances 9
- Suitability of patient groups currently eligible for health assessment items 9
- Clinical time required to deliver health assessment services 9
- Clinical complexity of patient groups targeted under the items 9
- Alignment of MBS item requirements with changes in modern clinical practice 9
- Workforce availability 9
- Opportunistic billing of MBS items by providers other than a patients usual provider 9
- Other please provide comments 9
- Q7. What would support the improved delivery of targeted health assessment services under 10
- Delivering health assessment services via general attendances Level A-E 10
- Improving item linkages to active clinical guidance e.g. Guidelines for preventive 10
- Expanding nurse Aboriginal Health Worker andor allied health practitioner roles in 10
- Provider education on MBS health assessment items 10
- Restricting billing of health assessments to a patients registered MyMedicare 10
- Introducing health assessment items for Nurse Practitioners 10
- Other please provide comments 10
- Q8. Do current arrangements for MBS health assessment items support practice nurses 12
- Aboriginal health workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners 12
- Q9. The Minimum Approach as outlined in the discussion paper p.14 is the minimum 13
- Link health assessments to MyMedicare 13
- Remove health assessments time-tiers or health assessment types that are no 13
- Expand access to allow other health professionals to provide health assessments 13
- None of the above please comment 13
- Q10. Is there benefit in further considering the Moderate Approach as outlined in the 15
- MBS health assessment items in line with current clinical guidance YesNoUnsure. 15
- Q11. If the Moderate Approach is considered should further consideration be given to 15
- Combining the chronic disease type 2 diabetes and heart health assessments into a 15
- The addition of new clinical requirements please specify 15
- Service frequency stratification based on patients level of risk please specify 15
- Health assessments for new patient cohorts please specify 15
- None of the above please comment 15
- Q12. Is there benefit in considering a more significant restructuring of any or all health 16
- Q13. Is there any further clinical evidence relating to health assessments that the department 16
- Q14. Please provide any other comments about MBS health assessment items. 17
- Conclusion 18
- References 18
