Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Closing the Gap	Indigenous Health Project Officer   Aboriginal Health Outreach Worker

Introduction  

Mainstream primary health care generally provides the first point of contact for health services in Australia and acts as an important gateway to the health system. However, multiple barriers (Including culture) can limit the usage of these services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Primary health care therefore is seen as a crucial point at which inroads can be made into improving health outcomes for Aboriginal Australians.

Broadly, the "Closing the Gap program aims to:

• Improve access to culturally appropriate primary care services for Aboriginal Australians.

• Improve management of chronic conditions experienced by Aboriginal Australians.

• Increase the overall health of the Aboriginal population.

Further information on the specifics of the Closing the Gap program

Practice Incentives

There are a number of CTG incentives available to practices that are accessed through the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive. These include a $1000 up front payment for signing on to the incentive, $250 per registered patient over the age of 15 years who is registered for chronic disease/risk of chronic disease management per calendar year, and tier level payments available for providing target levels of care including the development of a GP management plans and the provision of follow up care.

Patient Benefits

 Once an initial Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people's Health Assessment (MBS Item 715) is completed at the practice, the patient is then eligible for 10 follow up services provided by a Practice Nurse or Aboriginal Health Worker (MBS Item 10987), and 5 allied health consultations (Items 81300 - 81360) per calendar year. Development of GP Management Plans and/or Team Care Arrangements entitles the patient to a further 5 follow up and allied health services.

Additionally, patients who have or are at risk of a chronic disease and may have trouble adhering to medication regimes can be prescribed subsidised medications through the PBS Co-Payment Measure. This measure allows GP's to annotate scripts so that patients can receive medication at either the concession rate or completely free of cost depending on their current concession status. This makes it possible to substantially reduce the cost of vital medication for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients.

Practice Obligations

Practices must:

• Have/develop an active mechanism for identifying Aboriginal and Torres strait islander patients. The National standard method of obtaining this information is asking "are you of Aboriginal of Torres strait Islander origin? (Any patient who self identifies as being Aboriginal or Torres strait Islander origin is eligible for the abovementioned benefits, simply record their answer as stated)

• Be accredited or become accredited within 12 months of signing on to the PIP indigenous health incentive.

• Be registered for the Practice Incentive Program

• Have one general practitioner and one other staff member undertake cultural awareness training within 12 months of signing onto the PIP indigenous health incentive ( RACGP are currently developing units that satisfy this component )

• Get the patient to sign consent and registration forms

Resources

Forms

• PIP IHI application

• PIP IHI patient consent

• PIP IHI registration

• PIP IHI patient withdrawal

• Medical Records Update

Electronic PIP templates at the Murrumbidgee division website  ^{Sep 2011}

PIP IHI calculator

FAQ and OVERVIEW

Setting up MD3 for PBS co-payment

MD referral templates incorporating CTG reminder for specialists.

• Standard Referral letter

• Standard Referral letter with progress notes

Setting up Best practice for PBS co payment

RACGP practice fact sheet - Indigenous identification standards

 

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