Aged Care Access Program
Aim and objectives
Aged Care GP Panels Initiative
The aim of the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative is to improve access to primary medical care for residents of Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) and to enable GPs and Alied Health Service Providers (AHSPs) to work with RACFs to assist with quality improvement strategies for the care of all residents.
Objectives
- Improved access to appropriate medical and primary care for all aged care residents including:
- Provision of comprehensive assessment of medical needs for new and existing residents as required;
- General practice and allied health consultations for residents of RACFs;
- Providing medical and allied health care for residents whose usual GP or other primary care arrangements have broken down; and
- ensuring access to emergency or after hours GP care.
- Increased participation of GPs and AHSPs in aged care initiatives aimed at improving quality of care, including through:
- Sourcing and adapting quality care protocols; and
- GP and AHSP participation in quality care activities.
- To ensure GPs, AHSP and Divisions work more effectively with RACFs to:
- Identify key areas of concern;
- Implement measures to address concerns raised; and
- Reduce barriers to GP and AHSP involvement in RACFs.
In the 2008-09 Federal Budget, the Government announced that the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative would be restructured into the Aged Care Access Initiative which would be introduced from July 2008.
Aged Care Access Initiative
The Aged Care Access Initiative aims to improve access to GP and allied health services for residents of aged care facilities. The program has two separate components:
- Incentive payments for GPs providing a predetermined level of services to residents of aged care facilities. This component is funded through Medicare Australia.
- Payments for clinical care provided by allied health professionals to residents of aged care facilities where these services are not funded by Medicare or other Government programs. This component is managed on behalf of the Commonwealth by State Based Organisations which may purchase allied health services directly or through contractual arrangements with participating Divisions of General Practice to deliver this part of the Aged Care Access Initiative.
Links
DoHA: Enhanced Primary Care Program - CMAs for Residents of Aged Care Facilities
Resources
Aged Care/Hospital Discharge envelope
Aged Care Transfer to Hospital form
