Did you know RACFs are entitled to Telehealth financial incentives?
What is Telehealth?
From 1 July 2011, Medicare Australia introduced Telehealth, an initiative that aims to address some of the barriers to accessing medical services for Australians in eligible Telehealth areas.
Telehealth services offer real benefits for Australians. This initiative will help Australians in remote, regional and outer metropolitan areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Australians in residential aged care to access specialist medical services earlier and without the time and expense of travelling.
How will Telehealth work in aged care?
As an example, a GP refers a resident to a specialist, who decides the consultation may be done by video conference. The Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) has a room set-up with audio and video equipment which is connected to the internet so the specialist can hear and see the aged care resident. The consult occurs and removes the need for the specialist to attend the RACF or for the resident to leave to visit the specialist.
What are the financial incentives for RACFs?
The Government introduced financial incentives, from 1 July 2011, to encourage and support the provision of Telehealth services to Australians in RACFs throughout Australia.
Two types of incentives are available for RACFs:
This is a one-off payment to encourage eligible RACFs to provide appropriate facilities and resources
to host telehealth consultations.
| 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 |
| $6,000 | $4,800 | $3,900 | $3,300 |
These incentives encourage eligible RACFs to provide ongoing hosting services for their residents.
| 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2013-2014 | 2014-2015 |
| $60 | $48 | $39 | $33 |
Information regarding the financial incentives eligible RACFs are entitled to can be found at:
Telehealth overview for Residential Aged Care Facilities
For More Information:
MSB Online
Questions and answers have been prepared to assist residential aged care facilities in understanding the new MBS items and incentive payments introduced under the ‘Connecting Health Services With the Future: Modernising Medicare by Providing Rebates for Online Consultations’ initiative:
Questions and Answers for Residential Aged Care Facilities
Medicare Australia
Medicare has also provided information regarding Telehealth for health care professionals on their website.
If you have any questions please contact iCare’s Product Strategy and Development Manager, Chaolin Chang on 03 9652 8100 or via email changc@icare.com.au
