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BREAKING NEWS!
Modern Awards - Minimum wage to increase by 2.9%
From the first pay period on or after 1 July 2012 minimum weekly wages will increase by 2.9%. This may also affect many allowances. You need to check your employee's minimum entitlements to make sure you are meeting your obligations - even if you're covered by an agreement or pay your employees above award wages...read more
Important information for Employers from the ATO
Annual reporting
- Employers must provide payment summaries to all employees no later than 14 July 2012 - even if there was no tax withheld
- Employers must send in their payment summary annual report no later than 14 August 2012
Tax tables will change from 1 July 2012
The amount that employers are required to withhold from payments to employees changed on 1 July 2012...read more
Changes to superannuation
From 1 July 2013 the super guarantee will gradually increase from 9% to 12% over the next seven years. The upper age limit of 70 years for the super guarantee will also be removed.
For further information visit the Australian Tax Office website.
Changes to the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) and General Practice Immunisation Incentive (GPII)
As part of the 2012-2013 Federal Budget the government annnounced that the:
- GPII will cease with the final payment to be made to practices in May 2013
- PIP Diabetes Incentive outcomes payment target will increase from 20% to 50%; and
- PIP Cervical Screening Incentive outcomes payment target will increase from 65% to 70%
The eligibility requirements for the sign-on or Service Incentive Payment (SIP) for the PIP Diabetes or Cervical Screening Incentives have not changed.
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ACCREDITATION NEWS
Practices who are not yet accredited may like to take up the accreditation assistance incentive payment offered by the Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP).
To be eligible for the one-off $5,000 accreditation assistance incentive payment a practice must be registered for accreditation against the RACGP Standards for General Practices. Practice branches are not eligible for the $5,000 payment.
The practice must:
- Join the PNIP
- Provide Medicare Australia with proof of registration for accreditation on application; and
- Become accredited within 12 months of joining the PNIP
If a practice withdraws or payments cease from the PNIP and the practice subsequently reapplies for payment under the PNIP, the practice will not be entitled to another accreditation assistance payment.
Why not take advantage of the accreditation assistance incentive and have Medical Directions help your practice get accreditation?
Coming soon...
Video tutorials to help practices with DIY accreditation at www.MedicalDirections.com.au.
knowNOW! is the essential medical practice management program for collecting, protecting and accessing your practice operational files and information 24/7. Video tutorials will be released soon to help practices easily set up their knowNOW!
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PRACTICE TOP TIP FOR ACCREDITATION
Standard 1.5.2 Continuity of Care
New Criterion - Clinical Handover
Our practice team can demonstrate how we ensure an accurate and timely handover of patient care
The basis to this criterion - when the care of a patient transfers from one health care professional to another, it is timely and accurate.
Clinical handover can occur face-to-face, telephone conversation, referral letter, clinical records or by providing a verbal summary to another healthcare professional.
The RACGP outlines the occasion of clinical care handover in the Standards and includes a reminder to inform the patient of who will take over their care...read more
Remember involving patients in the decisions is important - particularly when several health professionals are involved in their care.
When considering your approach to this criterion you may find the OSSIE Guide to Clinical Handover Improvement a useful resource.
Other useful links:
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CHOCOLATE LOG - VERY DECADENT!
4 eggs - separated
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp cocoa
Beat egg whites until thick, slowly add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks appear.
Beat egg yolks and fold into egg whites.
Fold in all dry ingredients.
Spread mixture on to baking paper and spread out to approximately 30cm x 35cm.
Bake at 190° for 10-12 minutes.
While still warm roll up keeping the baking paper on and when cooled unfold and spread with jam and/or fruit and whipped cream.
Cover with melted chocolate.
ENJOY!!
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