Relationship between AMDS providers and general practices Are AMDS providers restricted from deputising on behalf of general practices that are not accredited according to the standards? No. The AMDS Guidelines do not restrict AMDS providers from deputising to patients of unaccredited general practices. Can an AMDS provider deputise on behalf of an after-hours clinic? No. An AMDS provider may only offer deputised care on behalf of a practice that operates on a full-time basis. Can a general practice enter into agreements with more than one AMDS provider? Yes. Advertising standards Are AMDS providers prohibited from attending industry events that they arranged before the release of the revised Guidelines? AMDS providers are not prevented from attending industry events under arrangements negotiated before the release of the revised Guidelines. However, providers cannot engage in directly marketing at these events as the requirements specified in part 8.4 of the revised AMDS Program Guidelines will apply. Are AMDS providers restricted from directly marketing services through mechanisms that are not listed in the Guidelines (e.g. radio marketing)? The AMDS Program Guidelines apply a restriction on direct marketing. While clause 8.4 of the Guidelines provides several examples of types of direct marketing of AMDSs that is restricted, this list is not exhaustive. The Guidelines prohibit AMDSs from directly marketing deputised services to consumers without limiting consideration to the type of medium/technology that is used to assist with the approach to market. For example, while the AMDS Program Guidelines do not make reference to radio marketing, Health would consider an advertisement to consumers through the radio as both a form of direct marketing and a violation of the Guidelines. Can an AMDS maintain a Facebook page? Not for marketing purposes. Health is aware that several providers use Facebook to provide general health advice to the public. The AMDS Program Guidelines do not
MBS item claiming entitlements for AMDS Program participants Regarding the new MBS item 594 - The descriptor references ‘medical practitioner’ rather than ‘General Practitioner. Does this item apply to VR GPs and GP Registrars when they perform subsequent attendances after completing an urgent consultation? Yes. Item 594 is to be claimed whenever a vocationally recognised GP, GP Registrar or other medical practitioner performs an additional attendance after completing an urgent consultation under item 585, 588 or 591. The descriptor for this item in the Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations (GMST) applies the medical practitioner term to cover all doctors who work in a general practice setting, including those who: hold a specialist qualification from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and/or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine; have been vocationally registered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) under s3F of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the HIA) have attained standing as a GP Registrar because of their participation on a general practice training program that is recognised by one or both of the Colleges; have met the definition of an eligible non-vocationally recognised GP under clause 1.1.1 of the GMST through participation on the AHOMPs, Rural Other Medical Practitioners (ROMPs), the Outer-Metropolitan Other Medical Practitioners (OM-OMPs) or the MedicarePlus for Other Medical Practitioners (MOMPs) Programs; and are other medical practitioners who qualify to claim MBS items, but who do not fall into one of the above groups. Are AMDS Program participants treated as GP Registrars for MBS item claiming purposes? No. GP Registrars are participants on the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT), the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s Independent Training Pathway.