Minimum Wage Increase
The Fair Work Commission has announced that there will be a 3% increase to the minimum wage which will apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2014 ... read more
Did you know that you can find useful templates on the Fair Work website to assist you with your record keeping and employee pay slips. Templates such as pay slips, employment records for leave and roster templates can be downloaded ... read more
QI&CPD Points - Quality Improvement Activities
GPs are now able to turn any ALM that they have completed into a Quality Improvement (QI) activity by clicking on 'My CPD' on the RACGP website. Once logged in, GPs need to click on 'Self Directed Activity' and submit a 'QI Reflection'. Once the QI reflective questions have been submitted, the GP will be allocated 5 category 2 points and will meet their requirement for the current triennium. GPs can submit multiple QI reflections however, points are capped at 15.
Proposed $7.00 Co-Payment
Patients are reportedly confused over the government's proposed $7.00 co-payment with many unsure of whether it has commenced. Practices have had patients cancelling booked appointments and instead going to hospital emergency departments to avoid paying the $7.00. The RACGP has issued a public statement to patients to ease their concerns ... read more
Industry leaders in general practice have called for an overhaul of the proposed co-payment at a meeting in Canberra. They have expressed concerns about the affect it is going to have on those on the poverty line, patients who are chronically ill, residents in aged care facilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and also the potential financial affect on practices that may need to increase staffing for administration of the co-payment ... read more
DVA Webclaim
From 1 July 2014 providers will be able to lodge claims using a new web-based channel called DVA Webclaim which will provide instant responses for most claims. You will also be able to access online payment statements for processed claims and download your DVA claiming history for the previous two years ... read more
Review of Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR)
The PCEHR began in July 2012 and in November 2013, the Minister for Health announced that there would be a review of it by a panel of health and IT experts as only 1 million consumers had registered to use it. The report is now available on the Department of Health website ... read more
Immunisation Rates Down
According to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) figures, immunisation rates among children aged under 12 months have dropped. This appears partly due to the ACIR ceasing its mail-out to parents of children who are identified as not being up-to-date at nine months of age. There is concern that the decreased numbers will jeopardise the herd immunity ... read more
Easier Access to Hearing Services for Your Patients
In Queensland alone up to three children are rushed to hospital every day after swallowing foreign objects such as lithium batteries. 
