Rule that nurses must be supervised for clinics to be reimbursed nearly caused ‘health disaster’ when rural GP had to isolate, expert says
town with one GP almost lost its vaccination clinic at the height of the pandemic because of what has been described as a “ridiculous” and “unjustifiable” Medicare billing rule that needlessly limits access to care.
As O’Ryan was the town’s only GP, there was no one else to supervise at the clinic, which was operating for one day only with the goal of administering about 1,000 vaccinations. The clinic was only able to go ahead after O’Ryan was granted special permission to be at the clinic in a separate room in protective gear.
“It highlights the ridiculous nature of the rule, and the lack of thought by those responsible for implementing the MBS item number for Covid vaccines.”