Common Questions about Vaccination

Australia has one of the world’s most comprehensive national immunisation programs, with over 94% of Australian children aged 5 years fully immunised.

Even though the vast majority of children are fully immunised, parents may still have questions about vaccination and want to know more about it.

1 July 2018 MBS Changes

The Department of Human Health adds 1 July 2018 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) changes to our health professional education resources.

Improved Medicare Compliance: Changes to Legislation

On 1 July 2018 changes occured to the Health Insurance Act 1973, the Dental Benefits Act 2008 and the National Health Act 1953, through the Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Act 2018 (the Act).

GP incentives increased to enrol DVA clients

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has increased incentive payments for General Practitioners (GPs) to enrol eligible patients in the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) program. The benefits of enrolling your patients, including reduced hospital admissions, were recently highlighted in an in-depth evaluation of the program.

GP clinics receive an initial incentive payment to enrol eligible DVA clients, then quarterly care payments thereafter. The new DVA fee schedule for CVC claims, including an increase in payments, came into effect on 1 July 2018.

AIHW Cancer Compendium

Report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, with information and trends by cancer type.

Changes to multiple patient verification checks

The Department of Human Services has changed the number of multiple patient verification checks you can make in HPOS each day.

New guidelines for myopia management

The Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) has released an online tool designed to help eyecare professionals manage patients with myopia.

Changes to process for allied health referrals

The way that a General Practitioner (GP) refers DVA clients to allied health providers is set to change from July 2019.

Funding boost for research into child blindness

The Federal Government has committed $3 million towards stem cell research that will in part focus on tackling blindness in children.

Parkinson's diagnosis — the eyes have it

Doctors may soon be able to detect Parkinson’s disease with a simple eye scan, thanks to a new link between a thinning eye retina and Parkinson’s disease.