Incentive payments for General Practitioners

There are a number of incentive payments available to practitioners working with our clients.

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MyMedicare

MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to formalise the relationship between patients, their general practice and general practitioner (GP).

DVA clients can register with MyMedicare using their Veteran Card or Medicare card. Clients can only have one registration, which will apply to any relevant MBS or DVA-funded service, regardless of if a Veteran Card or Medicare card has been used to register.

Practices who have DVA clients registered with MyMedicare, will have access to:

• More information about regular patients, making it easier to tailor services to fit the patient's needs;
• Longer DVA and MBS-funded telephone calls (Levels C and D) for their registered patients (from 1 November 2023); and
• A tripled Veterans' Access Payment incentive for longer DVA funded telehealth consultations (Levels C, D and E) providing greater incentive for GPs to treat veterans (from 1 November 2023).

If a DVA client chooses to register with their Veteran Card, they will need to complete a registration form in their chosen practice.

More information on MyMedicare, including how your practice can register, is available at the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

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Veterans' Access Payment (VAP)

As a General Practitioner (GP) you may claim a supplementary VAP for services you provide to eligible veterans and dependants. VAP is payable based on your Modified Monash Model (MMM) classification. 

The VAP incentive items are equivalent to the Medicare Bulk Billing Incentive and can be co-claimed with general practice items provided under DVA arrangements. 

From 1 November 2023, standard VAP amounts are tripling for certain services.

GPs can claim higher VAP incentives for:

• All face-to-face general attendance consultations;
• MBS Level B video and telephone general attendance consultations; and
• Video and telephone consultations when your practice and patients are registered to MyMedicare.

Standard VAP incentive items will continue to be payable to GPs who provide other relevant services, outside of those listed above, to Veteran Card holders. 

As part of the incentive changes, DVA is simplifying the claiming process by removing the temporary, DVA-only, VAP incentive items introduced during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Items MT83-MT89 will not be available to claim for services performed on or after 1 November 2023.  You will be able to use the equivalent MBS items to claim the VAP incentive for eligible consultations as described in the table below.

For more information on which services attract a higher incentive payment, please visit the MBSOnline website.

General Practitioner Services

Table 1: VAP incentives for GP services

Modified Monash Model Classification	Standard VAP Incentive Item	Tripled VAP Incentive Item	MyMedicare VAP Incentive Item
1	10990	75870	75880
2	10991	75871	75881
2-7 (Afterhours)	10992	75872	75882
3 or 4	75855	75873	75883
5	75856	75874	75884
6	75857	75875	75885
7	75858	75876	75886

Diagnostic imaging services

Table 2: VAP incentives for diagnostic imaging services

VAP Item	MMM Region
64990	1
64991	2
64992	3 or 4
64993	5
64994	6
64995	7

Pathology services

Table 3: VAP incentives for pathology services

VAP Item	MMM Region
74990	1
74991	2
75861	3 or 4
75862	5
75863	6
75864	7

More information of DVA’s permanent telehealth arrangements is available on the Permanent Telehealth information for Health Care providers webpage and the fee schedules for medical services are available online.

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Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Practice Stream

The WIP provides incentives to general practices who employ nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and allied health professionals.

Each year practices receive an annual per client payment based on the number of 'in room' consultations they provide. This only applies to clients who have a Veteran Gold Card. There are no limits on the amount per practice.

Medicare calculates the payments. They make the payments in August each year. Visit the Medicare website for more information on WIP.

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The Rural Enhancement Initiative

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Repatriation Commission and the Australian Medical Association Ltd (AMA) makes provision for us to pay a higher fee to GPs who provide services to veterans in identified rural public hospitals.

GPs participating in the rural enhancement initiative receive a 10% loading on top of the GP rate. This applies in:

• NSW
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Western Australia

You can view a list of identified rural hospitals.

If you treat veterans at any of these identified hospitals you are eligible to receive higher fees. This applies to all MBS services provided for eligible veterans.

Participating in the Rural Enhancement Initiative

There are 3 steps to participating in the Rural Enhancement Initiative.

1. Apply for a Medicare provider number

Apply for a provider number for the specified hospital or hospitals where you provide services. To do this complete the Application for a Medicare Provider Number for a Medical Practitioner form and submit it to Medicare Australia.

2. Let us know

Tell us your provider number when you get it. We record the details, which will let Medicare Australia know that this practice attracts the higher fee.

3. Bill to practice location

You must bill all services that you provide at the hospital or hospitals to that location. This helps make sure you get the correct payments. We will not pay the higher rate for services you provide at eligible rural hospitals but bill to other practice addresses.

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Contact us

For invoicing and billing enquiries call 1300 550 017.

For other provider enquiries call 1800 550 457.

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