From 20 July 2020, it will be a legislative requirement that GPs and Other Medical Practitioners (OMP) working in general practice can only perform a telehealth or telephone service where they have an existing relationship with the patient.
Patients will be eligible for GP and OMP telehealth services if they have seen their GP or another medical practitioner or health practitioner (such as a practice nurse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker) within the same practice at least once in the preceding 12 months.
An existing relationship means the medical practitioner performing the service:
- has provided a face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months; or
- is located at a medical practice where the patient has had a face-to-face service arranged by that practice in the last 12 months (including services performed by another doctor located at the practice, or a service performed by another health professional located at the practice, such as a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker); or
- is a participant in the Approved Medical Deputising Service program, and the Approved Medical Deputising Service provider employing the medical practitioner has a formal agreement with a medical practice that has provided at least one face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months.
The existing relationship requirement does not apply to:
- children under the age of 12 months;
- people who are homeless;
- patients living in a COVID-19 impacted area;
- patients receiving an urgent after-hours (unsociable hours) service; or
- patients of medical practitioners at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service
Click here to access further details about MBS Telehealth Billing.