Mental Health Pilot for Veterans
Tunstall Healthcare has been commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to deliver a unique research pilot.
The pilot is targeting younger veterans (both gold and white card holders) with low acuity mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. The veterans are provided the Clevertar app on their mobile phone or tablet, which they interact with for about three months. The app provides brain training and mindfulness techniques and equips the user with tools to manage stressful situations.
Enrolments have started and will close on 31 March 2019. Veterans will be enrolled in to the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program (if they aren’t already) as long as they meet the criteria of the pilot, and will receive the benefits of CVC until 31 December 2019.
If the veteran doesn’t have a suitable smartphone, a Samsung tablet will be loaned to them for the 3-4 months they are using the Clevertar app.
This video explains the Clevertar app:
More information about the CVC Program and the Mental Health Pilot is available in this flyer.
To request the full GP information pack, please contact your Practice Support Officer.
A Welcome Fee Increase for GPs with DVA Clients
The DVA has increased incentive payments for GPs with eligible patients enrolled in the CVC Program.
GPs are entitled to claim an initial incentive payment of up to $430.55 to enrol eligible DVA clients, with quarterly incentive payments of up to $449.30 (claimed in arrears) paid thereafter. The new DVA fee schedule came into effect on 1 July 2018.
The CVC Program, which was established in 2011, supports GPs to manage chronic conditions for DVA Gold Card clients who are living in the community, have one or more chronic conditions and who are most at risk of unplanned hospitalisation. Note that clients diagnosed with a terminal illness are not eligible to participate.
Starting with an initial assessment of the patient’s needs, which ideally should be conducted at the client’s home, GPs then prepare a comprehensive care plan which sets out the planned actions going forward. It is recommended that a patient-friendly version of the document be prepared for the patient so that they can understand and participate in the management of their health. At this point the initial incentive can be billed.
The plan should be reviewed quarterly (or at least every six months). This could take the form of a quarterly GPMP review, with a new GPMP being prepared annually as required. These will attract the usual GPMP and GPMP review rates, in addition to the quarterly incentive payment mentioned above.
Further information can be found on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website.