What’s new in 2022?

What’s new in 2022?

The ongoing pandemic is proving that the only constant is change. AMA (NSW)’s Workplace Relations team can assist members with queries relating to State and Federal Government announcements and regulatory changes.

For the AMA (NSW) Workplace Relations Team, 2022 has started in a very similar way to 2020 and 2021. We begin each day checking Federal Government and State Government announcements and regulatory changes to make sure we have the latest information for members to keep you up to date and support you so you can concentrate on caring for patients (and yourselves).

Medicare and Telehealth

The decision to reduce the available item numbers for telehealth services made last year has been delayed due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases. The Government has announced temporary changes to reinstate the availability of the telehealth services that were available in 2021. This will, inter alia, allow:

• specialists to provide telehealth services to hospital in-patients and patients in the community, 

• a new extended telephone consultation item for attendances 20 minutes or longer for patients in rural and remote communities, 

• patients who are subject to COVID-19 public health orders requiring isolation or quarantine will continue to have unrestricted access to MBS telehealth services without needing to demonstrate an established clinical relationship with the GP with whom they are consulting.

Vaccination in Private Practice
In addition to advising members regarding Medicare items for telehealth, the Workplace Relations Team has also been assisting practitioners to navigate the Public Health Orders. Prior to Christmas a Public Health Order was made requiring healthcare providers and support staff in private practice to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Healthcare providers and support staff must have had at least one dose before 31 January 2022 and two doses by 28 February 2022 in order to work in a medical practice or other location where patients attend for healthcare. The Workplace Relations Team is assisting members to navigate the consultation process with staff and work through the consequences for the practice if healthcare workers or support staff decline to be vaccinated. If you need assistance, please contact us on workplace@amansw.com.au.

Suspension of Elective Surgery

Once again, as hospital admissions for COVID-19 positive patients surge, elective surgery has been suspended in New South Wales. 

For Visiting Medical Officers, the Ministry of Health has reinstated the Cancelled Sessions and Telehealth Determination which provides for payments to be made to VMOs in the event of cancelled sessions due to the suspension of elective surgery and to consult with patients using telehealth.

Fatigue-related issues

For so many of our members, the much anticipated and much needed break over the holiday period did not eventuate or was cut short. This is particularly so for our Doctor-In-Training members. If members are having issues accessing leave or with rostering, the Workplace Relations Team is here to assist – (02) 9439 8822.