LOGIC December 2018 Vol 17 No 4 | Page 58

2. Art. No.: CD012119. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012119.p ub2 Information for General Practice New ACC contributions from 1 December General practices treating patients under ACC’s Cost of Treatment Regulations (CoTR) will receive increased contributions from 1 December following approval by Government. General Practice (doctor, nurse practitioner and nurse visits) will be paid a higher rate for patients with Community Service Cards, with the expectation the patient will pay no more than $18.50 for a GP visit. Their dependants (aged 14 -17 years) should be charged no more than $12.50. Additional contributions will also mean the current zero-fees scheme for under 13s can be extended to under- 14s. It is up to individual practices to set their co-payment levels, however ACC says the contributions are set at a level to encourage practices to pass on the benefits to their patients. These new rates will also apply to practices working under contract – Rural General Practice and Urgent Care Clinics. Contract holders will need to meet the terms and conditions of the contracts. ACC is reminding practices to invoice at the correct rates from 1 December. “It’s important that all health providers know about these invoicing changes to avoid a delay in payment,” said Graham Dyer, ACC Head of Provider Services Delivery. The changes are part of announcements made by the Government in Budget 2018 and apply to both health and injury-related visits. The new rates can be found at https://www.acc.co.nz/for-providers/provider-updates/new-rates- for-treatment-providers-confirmed/. Ministry of Health also has information about the initiatives available on the TAS website. December 2018 L.O.G.I.C 57