In the ever-evolving landscape of General Practice, practice nurses play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between patients and medical practitioners. Their contributions are indispensable, as they provide a wide range of essential services under the guidance and supervision of medical professionals. To shed light on the intricacies of practice nurse item numbers, let's delve into the details of patient eligibility and the specific requirements for claiming these valuable services.
Understanding Practice Nurses
First and foremost, it's essential to clarify who practice nurses are and what makes them eligible to provide certain services. A practice nurse is an individual who meets the following criteria:
They are either a registered nurse or enrolled as a nurse.
They are employed by a medical practitioner or their services are retained by a medical practitioner.
With these qualifications in place, practice nurses are empowered to deliver essential services that meet specific item requirements. Let's take a closer look at some of these services and the conditions under which they can be claimed.
Health Assessment Follow-Up (Item 10987)
Item 10987 is aimed at benefiting specific patient groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who've received a health assessment and children who've had a health check as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Practice nurses can claim this item up to 10 times per patient per calendar year while providing services consistent with the patient's health check. These services can include:
Checking on clinical progress and access to services.
Educating patients on medication compliance and monitoring.
Completing examinations or interventions as identified by the health check.
Taking a medical history.
Educating, monitoring, counseling, and providing lifestyle advice.
Offering prevention advice for chronic conditions and associated follow-up.
Item 10987 ensures that vulnerable populations receive the support and care they need to maintain their health.
Chronic Disease Monitoring and Support (Item 10997)
Patients with GP Management Plans, Team Care Arrangements, or Multidisciplinary Care Plans (covered by MBS items 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 721, 723, 729, 731, or 732) can benefit from Item 10997. Practice nurses can claim this item up to 5 times per patient per calendar year by providing monitoring and support consistent with the patient's care plan. These services may include:
Checking on clinical progress.
Monitoring medication compliance.
Providing self-management advice.
Collecting information to support the review of a care plan.
Item 10997 underscores the importance of ongoing care and support for patients managing chronic conditions.
Antenatal Service (Item 16400)
Item 16400 focuses on antenatal care and can be claimed up to 10 times per patient per pregnancy. However, certain conditions apply:
This item cannot be claimed alongside another antenatal attendance item provided to the same patient on the same day by the same practitioner.
It cannot be claimed in conjunction with items 10990, 10991, 10992, 75855, 75856, 75857, or 75858.
It applies to antenatal services provided at or from an eligible practice location in a regional, rural, or remote area.
These items do not apply to patients admitted to a hospital.
Item 16400 emphasises the importance of accessible antenatal care in rural and remote areas, providing expectant mothers with the support they need during pregnancy.
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