14 NEWS
14 NEWS
8 NOVEMBER 2024 ausdoc . com . au
‘ Streamline health assessments ’
Antony Scholefield THE AMA has backed the introduction of a single set of criteria for patients to access Medicare health assessments for chronic disease , diabetes and heart health checks . The Department of Health and Aged Care is reviewing all six health assessment MBS items , which GPs claimed 1.3 million times last year , for $ 274 million in rebates .
These include heart health checks , Aboriginal health assessments and the four time-tiered items for various patients , including those at risk of chronic conditions , those aged 75 and older , veterans and refugees .
A department discussion paper says changes could be minimal or a complete restructure , such as removing the time tiers or setting up new items that GPs could co-claim with attendance items . According to its discussion paper , fewer than 10 % of patients eligible for a chronic disease or type 2 diabetes assessment claimed a Medicare health assessment item in 2022 / 23 and fewer than 1.2 % of eligible patients claimed a heart check .
In a response sent to the department , the AMA urges minimal changes but opens the door to some larger tweaks .
“ In particular , the AMA is supportive of the recommendation to combine chronic disease , type 2 diabetes and heart health checks into one health assessment item and looks forward to exploring this
‘ Combine chronic disease , T2DM and heart health checks into one item .’
further with the department ,” the response states .
Currently , heart health checks are available for patients aged 30 and over once a year , chronic disease assessments for 45-49-year-olds once a lifetime and type 2 diabetes assessments for highrisk 40-49-year-olds every three years .
The heart health checks , in particular , are controversial because they have the same rebate and time requirements as a level C GP consultation .
The AMA also said patients enrolled in MyMedicare should only have health assessment at their registered practice — similar to the planned changes to GP care plan items .
Unsurprisingly , it rejected a suggestion that nurse practitioners could access health assessment MBS items .
LAGEVRIO is on the PBS for eligible patients aged ≥70 who test positive for COVID-19 regardless of symptoms 1
( Please see www . pbs . gov . au for full PBS eligibility criteria )
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PBS information : Authority required ( STREAMLINED ): LAGEVRIO must be for use when nirmatrelvir (&) ritonavir is contraindicated . 1 The contraindications to nirmatrelvir (&) ritonavir can be found using the Liverpool COVID-19 Drug interaction checker or the TGA-approved Product Information for nirmatrelvir (&) ritonavir . 1-3 Visit www . pbs . gov . au for more information .
▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring in Australia . This will allow quick identification of new safety information . Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse events at www . tga . gov . au / reporting-problems .
Selected Safety Information 4
INDICATION : LAGEVRIO has provisional approval for the treatment of adults with COVID-19 who do not require initiation of oxygen due to COVID-19 and who are at increased risk for hospitalisation or death . The decision to approve this indication was based on efficacy and safety data from a Phase 3 trial . Continued approval of this indication depends on additional data .
CONTRAINDICATIONS : Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients . Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with LAGEVRIO . If signs or symptoms of a clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction occur , immediately discontinue LAGEVRIO and initiate appropriate medications and / or supportive care .
PRECAUTIONS :
Pregnancy Category D : The use of LAGEVRIO is not recommended during pregnancy . In women of childbearing potential , health care providers should discuss the chance that they may be pregnant and consider the need for a pregnancy test .
Contraception : Advise women of childbearing potential to use effective contraception for the duration of treatment and for 4 days after the last dose of LAGEVRIO . Sexually active men with a partner of childbearing potential should use contraception during and for 3 months after treatment . Based on animal data , LAGEVRIO may cause foetal harm when administered to pregnant women .
Breastfeeding : Based on the potential for adverse reactions on the infant from LAGEVRIO , breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment and for 4 days after the last dose of LAGEVRIO .
Paediatric patients : Use in patients under the age of 18 years is not recommended .
ADVERSE REACTIONS : Common : nausea , diarrhoea , dizziness . The following have been reported in post-marketing experience : hypersensitivity , angioedema , erythema , pruritus , rash , urticaria , vomiting .
References : 1 . Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme . www . pbs . gov . au ( accessed March 2024 ). 2 . University of Liverpool . COVID-19 Drug Interaction Checker . Available at https :// covid19- druginteractions . org / checker ( accessed March 2024 ). 3 . Paxlovid ( nirmatrelvir-ritonavir ) Product Information . September 2024 . 4 . LAGEVRIO Product Information , October 2023 . 5 . Bernal AJ et al . N Engl J Med 2022 ; 509 – 520 . 6 . Van Heer C et al . Lancet Reg Health West Pac 2023 ; 41:100917 .
Before prescribing , please review the full Product Information available at www . msdinfo . com . au / lagevriopi or by scanning the QR code .
Copyright © 2024 Merck & Co ., Inc ., Rahway , NJ , USA and its affiliates . All rights reserved . Merck Sharp & Dohme ( Australia ) Pty Limited . Level 1 – Building A , 26 Talavera Road , Macquarie Park NSW 2113 . MSDA0146 . AU-ANV-00562 v3.0 . Issued October 2024 .
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