Vaccination remains a cornerstone of preventative healthcare. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) offers General Practitioners (GPs) opportunities to streamline their processes while delivering holistic care. Here are two key strategies to make the most of COVID vaccine-related billing.
Billing for COVID Vaccine Suitability Assessments
Did you know that you don’t need to administer the COVID vaccine to bill for a suitability assessment? This MBS item allows GPs to evaluate a patient’s readiness for vaccination and provides an opportunity to review their overall vaccination schedule.At our clinic, we’ve used this assessment time to discuss other vaccines, including:
- COVID boosters
- Influenza (flu) vaccine
- ADT (tetanus, diphtheria) booster
- Pneumococcal (Prevenar) vaccine
- Shingles vaccine
Home and RACF Visits for Vaccine Assessments
For patients at home or in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), GPs can bill MBS item 90005 for a suitability assessment, along with 93645 and other items like 37.MBS supports billing for consultations at the following locations:
- Residential aged care facilities or consulting rooms within the facility.
- Residential disability setting facilities or consulting rooms within the facility.
- A person’s residence, excluding residential aged care facilities.
Maximising Efficiency During Home Visits
When visiting patients in these settings, consider bringing both COVID and flu vaccines. This strategy allows you to:
- Provide comprehensive clinical care.
- Address multiple preventative needs in a single visit.
- Optimise your time and improve workflow efficiency.
Conclusion
By leveraging MBS billing options and suitability assessments, GPs can enhance preventative care services. This approach benefits both patients and practitioners, boosting vaccination rates and ensuring a more streamlined process.
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